Review: The Beatles’ New Song, ‘Now and Then,’ Is Beautiful, Moving

One of Lennon’s many poignant love songs

The original demo had circulated among fans as a bootleg, but it had sketchy audio quality. The song shows Lennon’s skill at writing a melancholy chord and pairing it with poignancy about life and death. “If I make it through, it’s all because of you,” Lennon sings. When McCartney joins him in the chorus, it’s a virtual tearjerker to hear the two lifelong friends singing together again.

The song bears some similarities to “Jealous Guy,” one of Lennon’s last great solo tracks, but the added guitar done by Harrison before his death brings another layer of emotionalism. Giles Martin, 54, son of Beatles’ legendary producer George Martin, added a string section to round out the track.

A surprise release that has delighted Beatles fans old and young

Though Beatles’ diehard fans had known about the demo, the idea that the remaining Beatles would create a brand new track, and one they have announced is their “final Beatles’ song,” surprised even the hardcore fans. Rumors of its existence first spread earlier this year, but were confirmed just last week with the release of the 15-minute promotional film.

The film intersperses some footage of the three Beatles’ attempting the song during those ’90s sessions with other clips of the band over the years. “All those memories came flooding back,” said McCartney in the film. “My God, how lucky was I to have those men in my life.”

Ringo Starr turned 83 this year, and McCartney turned 81. “To still be working on Beatles music in 2023?” McCartney says in the film. “Wow.”

Beatles’ fans are 'stunned' by the new song and its power

The Beatles fans who have heard the song have been overwhelmed with emotion at hearing Lennon sing again.

“It’s just stunning to hear John’s voice once again,” said Seattle's Sue Ennis, 73, who saw the Beatles as a teen and wrote more than 70 Beatlesque tunes with her high school classmate Ann Wilson of Heart, selling more than 35 million records. “It’s a truly beautiful song, but also not predictable. Rarely are songs that are scripted together from bits and pieces in the studio as emotional and pure as this. It’s a gem, but that’s a testament of the power of these men playing together.”

There's also new Beatles music video with unseen film, and vinyl releases

The new release will come out on vinyl, CD, digital and cassette, and the Beatles’ Red and Blue albums with the new track are being remastered and rereleased Nov. 10. Almost certainly, “Now and Then” will chart high, as the very idea of a new Beatles’ song is unprecedented at this stage in their career.

Additionally, Jackson has created a new music video for “Now and Then.” The video includes previously-unseen footage of the Beatles throughout their career. Jackson has obtained the first known footage of the Beatles — before Ringo Starr was even in the band — from the brother of original Beatles drummer Pete Best. The band is seen performing in leather suits in the footage, taken before manager Brian Epstein cleaned up their rough image by putting them in collarless Pierre Cardin suits.

'A balance between the sad and the funny'

Jackson uses only a few seconds of that rare video — the full silent film will be on display at the Liverpool Beatles Museum. Jackson said he had other “unseen outtakes in the vault, where the Beatles are relaxed, funny and rather candid.”

He said his resulting music video is poignant, but also includes light moments to counteract the sadness in seeing the deceased Lennon and Harrison. Lennon clowns around, pointing at his living bandmates McCartney and Starr. “We wove the humor into some footage shot in 2023,” Jackson said. “The result is pretty nutty and provided the video with much needed balance between the sad and the funny.”

Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images

Questions about the future of AI on other unreleased recordings

“Now and Then” raises questions about the future of “lost” recordings by the greats, and whether AI will allow other demos by legends to come to life again. But when it comes to the Beatles, the band’s vaults have truly been explored for decades, and “Now and Then” is indeed the last time we’ll ever hear the Beatles together. Which is part of the reason it’s emotional to hear it. Even the title of the song suggests a parting.

But use of technology like that developed by Jackson will likely make future “new recordings” by legendary acts possible, as previously unlistenable tracks are cleaned up, and individual vocals isolated from muddy mixes.

Still, for Beatles fans like Ennis who have stuck with the band from the start to this “final” track, no other band will ever compare to the love the Beatles have given their audience.

“There is only one John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr,” she said. “There will never be anything like them.”