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The newest song recorded by The Beatles is set to become the top single on the chart, having sold more copies than the other top five songs combined during its first weekend.
Originally composed and performed by John Lennon, “Now And Then” was later revised by his fellow bandmates, including the late George Harrison. Decades after its initial recording, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr completed the song.
After being released on Thursday, the song is expected to be their 18th chart-topping hit, according to the Official Chart Company’s initial report.
This would mark their first number one hit in 54 years, with the previous one being The Ballad Of John And Yoko in 1969.
Some of their past top hits include timeless tracks like Hey Jude, All You Need Is Love, Yellow Submarine, and Help!
The remastered song was taken from a demo by Lennon, which he recorded in the late 1970s at his residence in New York’s Dakota Building.
Following his passing at the age of 40 in 1980, Yoko Ono, wife of Lennon, gifted the recording to the remaining members of The Beatles in 1994. The band then released the songs “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love” in the same decade.
In this timeframe, Harrison, Sir Paul, and Sir Ringo worked on new sections and finalized a preliminary version of Now And Then alongside producer and musician Jeff Lynne.
Although the band had recorded the song, they ultimately chose not to release it. The reason given was difficulties with separating Lennon’s vocal and piano tracks, as technology was not advanced enough at the time. Sadly, Harrison passed away in November 2001 at the age of 58.
Peter Jackson, the filmmaker, utilized advanced audio restoration technology in his recent documentary about The Beatles. This technology made it possible to separate and focus on individual elements such as vocals, music, and conversations from the band. This technique was also implemented in the production of Now And Then.
The track, featuring Harrison’s electric and acoustic guitar from 1995, was completed by Sir Paul and Sir Ringo in the previous year.
Jackson also directed a music video for the song, featuring a reunion of the Fab Four. The video displays Lennon and Harrison playing instruments, along with current footage of surviving members Sir Paul and Sir Ringo.
During an interview with The Sunday Times, Sir Paul expressed his fondness for the concept of holding onto each other.
When you have someone you care for deeply, often a family member, it can be difficult to say goodbye when they pass away – as people often say.
“They reside in your recollections, eternally etched in your emotions. And, without a doubt, this holds true for both myself and the boys.”
When considering the image he wants for the band, he shared: “The Beatles come to mind- joy, talent, humor, and love.”
I would be pleased if people remember us for those things.
Ringo expressed his desire for the group to be remembered with love.
The percussionist exclaimed, “Do you remember how many streams we had last year? Was it one billion? Maybe three billion? It’s mind-blowing. The rhythm never stops, you know?”
Cannot reword.
