The Beatles's final song, revived by AI, nominated for Grammy
Almost half a century after the band broke up, The Beatles have bagged two Grammy nominations for their last song "Now and Then." The song was resurrected last year with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. It is now in the race for the record of the year alongside famous artists like Beyonce, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. The song has also been nominated in the best rock performance category.
'Now and Then' was originally a Lennon demo
"Now and Then" was originally a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. This recording, along with "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," was given to Lennon's three surviving bandmates in the '90s for consideration in The Beatles Anthology project. However, due to the technology of that time, it was impossible to isolate John's vocals and piano for a clear sound, leaving "Now and Then" unreleased.
AI technology helped complete 'Now and Then'
In 2021, filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team separated the instrumentals and vocals of "Now and Then" using machine learning technology. The technological breakthrough finally allowed Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to finish the song. Even though it was finished using machine learning, the song still complies with The Grammy's rules surrounding AI. These guidelines state that while only human creators are eligible for a Grammy Award, works containing "elements" of AI material can be considered in applicable categories.
