Timeless Beatles Smash Hit: "Now and Then" Remains Unforgettable
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The Beatles, one of the most iconic bands in music history, are set to release a "final" song entitled "Now and Then" later this year. This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant milestone in the intersection of AI and music, as well as a poignant tribute to the legacy of John Lennon and the Beatles.
The AI model used to generate Lennon's voice was trained on a dataset of Lennon's vocal recordings, meticulously analysing his unique voice characteristics such as tone, pitch, and phrasing. The voice of Lennon was resurrected using AI technology developed by filmmaker Peter Jackson, originally used for The Beatles' Get Back documentary.
By isolating and cleaning up Lennon's vocal track from his original demo recording of "Now and Then", the surviving Beatles (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and previously George Harrison) were able to complete and produce the final track. This was made possible by extracting Lennon's vocals and removing the noise, such as traffic and television sounds on the cassette tape.
The collaboration between human expertise and AI technology was key to perfecting Lennon's voice in "Now and Then". The musicians meticulously analysed the original recordings and live performances to understand the subtle nuances that made Lennon's voice so distinctive. The AI model was trained using cutting-edge neural network architectures such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs).
Paul McCartney described the AI process as effectively giving Lennon his own separated vocal track, making it feel as if Lennon was "there" with them, allowing the band to work around his isolated voice. It's worth noting that the AI did not create new vocals but restored and brought Lennon's original singing to the forefront in a tasteful manner.
Lennon’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, expressed that his father would have appreciated the use of technology to creatively complete the song, honouring the spirit of musical experimentation Lennon embraced during his life.
The resurrection of John Lennon's voice through AI technology serves as a symbol of the enduring influence of the Beatles. By bridging the gap between past and present, "Now And Then" reminds us of the enduring power of music and the enduring spirit of artistic collaboration.
"Now And Then" is the only Beatles song featuring all four voices - Lennon (via demo), McCartney, Starr, and Harrison's parts from 1995 - released decades after their breakup. This song is a testament to remarkable technological advancements and the unwavering dedication of musicians.
The release of "Now and Then" marks a significant milestone in the intersection of AI and music, demonstrating the incredible potential of AI technology. It also wins recognition such as a Grammy for Best Rock Performance, symbolizing a blend of technological innovation and musical legacy.
The collaboration between AI technology and human expertise, as demonstrated in the production of "Now and Then", showcases how technological advancements can revolutionize the style and quality of music. The AI model trained on John Lennon's vocal recordings incorporates elements of modern technology into the realm of entertainment, making it a prominent example of AI integration in the music industry.
