“Now And Then” could be The Beatles’ 18th number one

The Beatles’ officially final single, “Now And Then”, was released on November 2nd and was at number 42 in the UK charts after just ten hours. The official singles charts will be released on November 10th and it is currently estimated that the song could reach number one by then.

“Now And Then” would be the Beatles’ first new single in 54 years to reach number one in the charts. The last one was “The Ballad Of John And Joko” from 1969.

The origin of the new and final single dates back to the time of the late John Lennon. At that time he made a recording with piano and vocals. The remaining band members then tried to supplement these with new recordings in order to release the song after the singer’s death. Despite initial difficulties, using modern AI technologies, they managed to separate the singer’s voice and continue working with the recording.

The Beatles’ final music video

Peter Jackson was a big help on the way to releasing the track. He developed the technology that ultimately made it possible to use John Lennon’s recording by separating the vocals and piano parts. Jackson also directed the “Now And Then” music video. He himself describes the work in one notice as “poignant and humorous”. It invites “viewers to celebrate the Beatles’ timeless and enduring love for each other with John, Paul, George and Ringo as they create the final Beatles song.”

Short film about the creation of “Now And Then”

In addition to the story behind the Beatles’ last song, a twelve-minute short film was also released on the band’s YouTube channel. It says: “This remarkable history of music archeology reflects the Beatles’ endless creative curiosity and shared fascination with technology. It marks the conclusion of the final recording that John, Paul, George and Ringo will make together and celebrates the legacy of the most important and influential band in the history of popular music.”