New AI Beatles single 'Now and Then' set for release

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00:00 53 years after splitting up, they're back.

00:04 It's a reunion few could have imagined since only two are still alive.

00:08 But the Beatles are releasing a new single featuring all four band members thanks to

00:11 artificial intelligence.

00:13 It's the last song that my dad and Paul and George and Ringo will get to make together.

00:19 Now and Then was written and sung by John Lennon in the late 1970s.

00:23 24 years later, his widow, Yoko Ono, gave the demo to Paul McCartney.

00:28 But back then it was impossible to separate Lennon's vocals and piano to work alongside

00:32 new recorded parts.

00:34 Last year, AI made that possible.

00:36 Paul called me up and said he'd like to work on Now and Then.

00:39 He put the bass on, I put the drums on.

00:43 In the city of Liverpool where it all began, fans are eager to hear the result.

00:47 I can't wait to hear the song.

00:49 I hope it's done tastefully.

00:50 I hope it is bringing about something that they have created together, collaboratively

00:56 and the technology just makes it happen.

00:58 But the use of AI has left some people a little sceptical.

01:02 I like the item to be the original item and I know it's all about picking John's voice

01:09 out and putting it into this, what's going to be the last Beatles song.

01:14 And I suppose it's wonderful for the fans.

01:17 But I don't know, I've got a conflict, I still haven't made my mind up about it.

01:23 I'm very conflicted with regards to that.

01:26 But I'm sure it's going to sound wonderful.

01:29 It was in this room that the Beatles performed for the very first time.

01:32 The venue and the city itself attracts fans from around the world.

01:37 The physical release of Now and Then also comes ahead of new editions of the Beatles

01:41 Red album and Blue album, expanded to cover their entire singles discography.

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