“Now and Then” – Gives Us a Beatles’ Reunion We Never Expected

 

 

Having been in a generation that grew with the Beatles, I was one of millions of fans who dreamt of a reunion after the band broke up in 1970. 53 years later – and after the deaths of John Lennon in 1980 and George Harrison in 2001 – thoughts of a reunion had long faded. The lovely song “Now and Then” gives us a Beatles’ reunion we never expected.

Disney+ Short Film

To understand how this all came to be, fans should check out the short documentary Now and Then – The Last Beatles Song on Disney+ to witness the 28 year process that slowly unfolded in order for us to get the song we can listen to and appreciate now.

John Recorded the Song at Home

It all started with John recording the song in his home in the Dakota Building in New York City sometime during the 1970s. Listening to his vocal is reminiscent of some of the earlier Beatles’ songs like “If I Fell” and “I Call Your Name” where his youthful exuberance could be clearly heard. That is the intriguing charm of the track, making us unconsciously feel that he is young and alive and well somewhere recording new tunes.

A True Beatles’ Song

Don’t think this comes from some kind of AI trickery – this is the real John Lennon singing along with his three mates. Yes, technology is used here as is detailed in the short film on Disney+, but all four of the Beatles are present during this new song – that's unmistakably George playing the guitar, Ringo banging on those drums, and Paul playing the bass. There is also some of the great Beatles' melodic harmony on the track. It is truly the last time that Beatles will ever make new music together.

Yoko Ono gave the tape to the three surviving Beatles in 1995. They tried to use the tape to make a record then, but the technology was not sophisticated enough, especially in trying to isolate John’s vocal that was being overtaken by the piano he was playing. George’s guitar was recorded along with the other’s instruments, but they deemed the song not fit for release at the time, and it was shelved.

Lord of the Song

Along comes Peter Jackson, the great director of The Lord of the Rings films and the 2021 film Get Back in which he used current technology to improve old video clips of the band creating the album of the same name. Jackson found a way to separate the vocal that is pure and clear and sounds like John recorded it last week. This allowed Paul and Ringo to come in, play their instruments, lend their vocals, and we have this new song that sent chills down my spine because it was an old song that felt so new.

Reactions to the Song

When John sings “Now and then, I miss you,” it is hard not to get misty because the clear truth is that is how we collectively feel about John Lennon. The song has a feel of the Beatles’ mop top period; there is a sense that we have captured yesterday – oh, how we long for yesterday.

I have heard some negative comments about the song, but I have nothing but praise for it. One of my friends said something like, “Well, it’s not as good as the later songs.” Since I didn’t want to get into it, I just ignored him, but the truth is that many of their earlier tunes were not as strong as their later work; however, there is no ignoring the whimsy and joy that the older songs like “She Loves You,” “Help,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “A Hard Day’s Night” bring upon hearing them again.

The Verdict

“Now and Then” is symbolically connected to its B side “Love Me Do,” which was the Beatles’ first single. And in the end, the music is pure Beatles and seemingly heaven sent. I’m certain John and George are looking down on their friends with smiles on their faces. It is a little gem of a song – an early Christmas present if you will – and I have listened to it many times and, like all the Beatles’ songs that I love, I never get tired of hearing it.    

Please check out the trailer and official video below!