Almanac Music: ‘Now and Then’ – Why the world has shed a tear

 

 

NOW AND THEN-WHY THE WORLD HAS SHED A TEAR

 

Late last week like millions of Beatle fans across the globe I waited with great anticipation for the release of ‘Now and Then’ penned by John Lennon in 1977 at his Dakota Apartment in New York and recorded as a demo on his tiny cassette player.

 

The song was one of three new compositions considered for the Beatles Anthology project back in 1995 together with Free As A Bird and Real Love but two factors prevented its coming to life; technology of the time wouldn’t allow Lennon’s vocals to be separated from the piano to ensure voice clarity; and after completing the other two songs McCartney, Harrison and Starr “ran out of steam” and never got around to completing it according to McCartney although they had recorded some parts including George Harrisons acoustic rhythm guitar playing.

 

Fast forward to 2020 with technological advances together with a thing called AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the genius of Peter Jackson the acclaimed New Zealand film maker, Paul and Ringo set about to finish off the project-the last Beatles song.

 

We have known for some time throughout late 2022 into 2023 that November was to be the release date for the song. In this day of social media marketing a cleverly designed campaign to strategically build anticipation and excitement ramped up in recent months firstly with a 30 second trailer of a 13-minute documentary on the making of the song, the documentary, and the release the next day of the song itself followed a day after with a music video clip produced by Peter Jackson himself.

 

The 13-minute documentary telling the story of ‘Now and Then’ was the perfect teaser prior to the release of the song and featured commentary from McCartney, Harrison and Starr-I knew something special was about to land the next day.

 

The song was released at 1am last Friday morning (2pmGMT time) and I awoke around 6am eager to have my first listen. And as I lay in bed I reached for the mobile phone and sure enough there it was on my facebook feed. The Apple label facebook page took me to Spotify where I downloaded the ‘single’ with ‘Now and Then’ and ‘Love Me Do’ – the first Beatle song and the last Beatle song packaged together.

 

With headphones now on I settled back head on pillow and pressed play. McCartney welcomes us with a one, two count into the first verse which commences with a haunting A minor piano chord. And when John Lennon’s crystal clear voice opens with “I know it’s true, it’s all because of you,” I sense an emotional, magical musical journey is ahead.

 

 

 

 

The song is essentially a simple ballad consisting of Beatlesque chord progressions with the obligatory transition from major chords to minor and a bridge that takes the listener to a new plateau. With Lennon’s beautiful vocals, Sun King (from Abbey Road) like harmonies, McCartney’s homage to George Harrison’s understated slide guitar playing, the beautifully arranged orchestration by Giles Martin, Paul’s melodic bass lines and Ringo’s understated drumming you have a quintessential Beatles song.

 

The song is surreal, recognizable, poignant, and nostalgic. It is quite remarkable how AI, technology and modern internet marketing can bring John Lennon (and George Harrison) back from the dead to reunite them with Paul and Ringo in this extraordinary way. Hearing Lennon gave me an embodied lived and felt experience of now while instantly transporting me back to my then eight-year-old self, smiling and immersed in my favorite band.

 

Liam Gallagher writing on X said: “Absolutely incredible, biblical, celestial, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time.” When asked by a fan if he was worried he wouldn’t like the song, Gallagher replied: “The Beatles could shit in my handbag and I’d still hide my polo mints in there.”

 

I kept playing it and playing it all day as I was transfixed by this piece of magic-by the end of the day I had worked out all the chords to the entire song. I am now playing it on my humble acoustic guitar and singing the words albeit somewhat off pitch.

 

When the Peter Jackson film clip was released 24 hours after the song my obsession with ‘Now and Then’ went to another level. I was completely transfixed by what I was seeing before my eyes with this musical and visual piece of wizardry. I failed miserably in trying to hold back the tears as I was transported back in time with my heroes reunited for one last time. Indeed, the world has shed a collective tear.

 

I have read many, many reviews of ‘Now and Then’ over the last few days and scrolled through social media posts reading with interest fans (and critics) response from around the world. Despite those who say let John rest in peace, it’s a cash grab, it’s quaint but doesn’t reach any real gravitas I say you just don’t get it-The Beatles represent much more than the music. They are the embodiment of how we want life to be; joyous, harmonious, and full of love.

 

As one critic put it: “beyond ‘Now and Then’ there is a story we are all part of, a continually unfurling tale that has no farewell, just a facet of culture passed on in the folk manner that spawned it, to brighten our days with a fanfare of celebratory colour every now and then.”

 

Thank you, John, Paul, George, and Ringo I could not imagine living my life without The Beatles.

 

 

 

 

More from Richard Griffiths can be read Here.

 

 

 

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