The Beatles: Now and Then is billed as their final song, released on 2 November 2023 as a double A-side with Love Me Do (1962), their first single.
Why do we need yet another Beatles song?
This isn’t the first posthumous Beatles release, of course, we’ve had Free as a Bird and Real Love among others, but my thoughts have never really changed. I don’t think we’ve ever needed another Beatles song and I personally have never wanted one. Don’t get me wrong, The Beatle’s legacy can’t be debated, and their music has inspired the world, including myself, in so many ways. If it wasn’t for The Beatles and their music, I would never have gone down the path of music, guitar, and songwriting in the first place.
But the difference is songs like Norwegian Wood, She’s Leaving Home, The Long and Winding Road, and In My Life were, and are unforgettable, inspirational, unique, and surprising. Now and Then, and for that matter, all of the posthumous releases, just aren’t. They’re just songs like any other, nothing special, and for me, rather pointless.
I recently wrote a blog about My Life Has Been Saved. A Queen song I recently re-discovered which was rather special because I found out it was done when Freddie was still alive as a kind of hidden B-side. This Beatles song is different though, it’s another rehash from old tapes, it’s not an interesting discovery in any way, mostly because it’s not very good.
The Beatles: Now in Then isn’t a good Beatles song.
My instant reaction is there’s no hook. There’s nothing to grab you. The Beatles were the absolute masters of a memorable melody but this, it has to be said, feels like a demo idea that wasn’t good enough to make it. The song was written by John Lennon in 1977 (3 years before his death in 1980), and its quality is probably the reason why we’ve never heard it until now.
The actual verse, after a few listens, begins to grow on you. It’s a solid, if predictable melody, at least, but the problem is that’s the highlight, which is never a good thing, it never really goes anywhere. The chorus is instantly forgettable, and not even throwing the kitchen sink at it production-wise can save a bad, boring idea. This is most certainly not The Beatles: Kings of the catchy chorus, but rather a copy-and-paste from other, far better Beatles moments.
But many people will disagree. This is The Beatles, and listening to it, you know it’s a Beatles song, which will be enough for some. But technically, is it really? AI restoration has been used on those vocals. Does that mean it’s really John Lennon singing?
Positives at this point? Well, at the end of the verses it has an almost James Bond Theme feel, which is absolutely the highlight of the whole song, and that’s because John Lennon was a genius…
…These days, the Am / Em chord progression would largely be overlooked. It’s been done to death. But the thing is, this is The Beatles, and they kind of wrote the chord book to begin with. So here it is, like an old friend, and it kind of still works, it always has done, and I miss hearing it, and I don’t know why I don’t use it more often because it’s beautiful, especially with his vocals. Rhythmic, foreboding, and emotional. But who am I to judge the best?
And again as this is The Beatles, we transition to E towards the end of the verse, which is unusual and interesting, and up to C, somehow, leading into the chorus.
Then there’s the guitar, but I’ll get to that.
There’s too much going on (in the chorus)
As I said earlier, this has been produced to within an inch of its life. There’s not only a full orchestra trying to drown out and lift the drab chorus but also a boatload of backing vocals over the top. I’m kind of relieved to get back to the verse. It’s very Beatles’y, just not something I prefer. I’d prefer a great chorus.
John Lennon isn’t the best singer in the Beatles.
A preference thing. Most of my favourite Beatles songs are sung by Paul McCartney. He and Freddie Mercury are my two favourite singers (and songwriters) because they have that optimism in their voices and lyrics. I just love their music and the way they deliver it connects with me on an emotional level. That’s not to say John Lennon wasn’t also great, it’s just that the connection wasn’t as strong.
George Harrison rejected Now and Then in 1995.
The Beatles: Now and Then almost saw the light of day back in 1995, but George Harrison rejected it whilst working on the project. As it needed everyone’s agreement, it was mothballed, and I can understand why he didn’t like the song. You can get the full story here.
The Guitar elevates and justifies it.
Here’s the really special thing about The Beatles: Now and Then. Despite George Harrison rejecting it, in my opinion, his incredible guitar work lifts the song, brings it bang up to date, and almost, but maybe not quite justifies its existence. I’ve changed my mind. His guitar is the best thing about it!
More than anything. It fits, complements, and enhances, like a sprinkling of fairy dust. Not only in the phrasing but in the tone, which is dripping with quality. Slide guitar has a tendency to pigeonhole a guitar part into the blues, but, like the end of the choruses, these syrupy-thick, delayed soundscapes are veering into epic movie soundtrack territory from today, not yesteryear.
The ending is great.
And after my ears have been treated to that, a proper ending. Not a drum fill, not a fade-out, but a proper ending progression that, it has to be said, is a really touching final flourish to The Beatles legacy, that again showcases them to a whole new generation.
The video is great.
And here it is. Judge for yourself!
Conclusion
I’m glad The Beatles have released this Now and Then. Not because it’s a particularly good Beatles song (it isn’t, even according to George Harrison), but because in an age of mediocrity, it’s a reminder of how great The Beatles were and what great music sounds like, despite my dislike for the chorus. I think a lot of aspiring songwriters could learn a lot from their unique talents, but more than anything I think it’s important that great music isn’t forgotten about.
Maybe we all needed it.
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