Indeed, I had so many thoughts I had to make an extra-nerdy director’s cut for myself. It was a lot to process, ok?!
Cheers to everyone who requested this video! It was definitely gunna happen either way. But enough about me! I’d love to know what YOU thought of the song. I feel really lucky to have this little community of fellow Beatlemaniacs with whom to obsess, and I’m so excited to hear everyone’s thoughts! Blow up the comments, please and thank you.
Oh, and quick note: I’ve just learned that they’re actually using Abbey Road vocal tracks (from “Because”, specifically) on this track!
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Thanks for your sharing your attention with me. 🙂
#thebeatles #nowandthen #JohnLennon #PaulMcCartney #GeorgeHarrison #RingoStarr
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I think everyone involved did a fantastic job to make this new version of John's demo into a "Beatles" song.
My feelings today (which may change over time) is that this song demo from John is not as strong as the other two.
It just feels like less of a song – to me.
I think if John had brought this song to Paul (like back in The Beatles days) they would have added another segment to the song.
I love everything they added to the demo – to make it as good as it could be. And I do like the finished song.
I just don't love it… as much as Nancy (and many others do) at this point in time.
That may change….
Having an actual George Harrison guitar solo would have made it better.
Having Paul's 1995 voice singing with John would have made it better.
Having George's (and Ringo's) 1995 voice singing in it would have made it better.
Maybe the song does include some voice work from Paul, George & Ringo from the 1995 period… but a lot of the backing vocals are from 2023 Paul & Ringo.
Earlier vocals would surely have been better than their 80 year old vocals.
I am still very glad they put this together – and gave it to us.
Like Nancy said… it is a very special gift – to get a new Beatles song in 2023.
Super nice video as usual. My main takeaway is how fortunate our generation is to have one new Beatles song to be around for. Like we'll never see them live or experience the release of an album of course but we do have this which is pretty special.
I like the song more each time I hear it, the way the melody resolves itself in the verse is so characteristic of John. The strings sound great too, that arrangement elevates the song so much. I'd have to say out of the three post-breakup songs Real Love is my favourite followed by this one and then Free as a Bird.
Yep, I love the song! Of course I got weepy first hearing it, but I could now put it on a loop and listen to it forever. LOL IMHO, a wonderful finale for The Beatles …❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nice video, thanks for sharing.
I’m not really a fan of the song though. I really don’t care for Fee as a bird either. Both songs sound like Paul McCartney songs with John Lennon samples.
Last of all there is a podcast called something like Lost Beatles Songs. The people in This podcast take abandoned songs or snippets or even just riffs and then create a song around it. Paul and Ringo could easily do the same thing and put out an entire album, calling it a new Beatles album.
Why not?
There are discussions about how real it is, would all of The Beatles have been on board, is it just the last pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: these are blasted away as soon as we here that voice and it's at that moment we know we wanted this. Plaintive is exactly the right word. The track is so layered and seems to progress with some kind of inner necessity.
It's not like you had a lot of time to think about this. Such an eloquent response.
65 yo guy here, was turned on to the band when I was 7 my older cousin had the album Rubber Soul and I was hooked. The band was so great but for me myself John was my favorite I just loved his voice and the songs he wrote. I cried hearing this song a few days ago! I love your reaction to this Beautiful song that John recorded the demo and how thru the years they finally made it complete!
I've never come across you before< but god, i love your your insights.
My thoughts too, the first time i heard just the music i thought "this is John pining for the good old days". With the official video it is a real tear jerker.
Yoko might have something left if George did some jamming with John. Then enters Paul and Ringo.🎶
This song is beautiful, it's a masterpiece I love it!
I thought I would make a post about Now and Then… First off I want to thank the families that gave the blessing to bring this song to the world… I am so glad that it is out there to help those that are going through loss…. This is also helping the surviving members of the group heal from the wounds of losing John and George.. John to a crazy man.. George to cancer….
We never had enough time with our family and friends… Even those who we grew up loving like crazy… This song came out at the right time for me personally.. I lost my mom and dad.. My dad in 09 and my mom in 2013.. Not even 4 years apart…. My family has also been hit with illness and some have died.. Sometimes life can be so hard..
Same thing for the famous… We never know when they will pass away… I was only nine when John died.. A day after I lost my 17 year old cousin to a drunk driver.. I took George's death from cancer so hard.. I cried over the phone to a radio DJ as My Sweet Lord was playing on my sisters clock radio… Then the loss of Bob McGrath.. It has been a nightmare of years for me…
I heard this song last night and still playing it right now…. It shows the bond of great friends that in spite of the hell of touring and the fighting… They had each other's backs and even though some are gone.. They still have each other's back… That is how I feel it is with my family… With strong family and friends We can make it though ANYTHING "all because of YOU.."
This is the message I got from the song… If I had to do it again.. I don't think I would change a thing.. This song makes you appreciate the people you have in life a lot more… We need that more then ever and Now and Then delivers….
Great analysis and review.
This is a fantastic and insightful review of Now And Then. Here's what I posted in the comments of The Beatles channel…
It's remarkable.
A wonderfully reflective and joyous look back at a career of a band like none other. It's serendipitous to now realize that this particular song, this cassette that contained 3 songs on it, that somehow was left unfinished and in a "cupboard" for almost 30 years, almost as if John may have said "No…wait, not yet". Then suddenly it was now the perfect time. Incredible. There's a reason why this band was and is special and I don't particularly care what the right explanation is… I just know I love them. Bravo to The Beatles.
Paul McCartney George Harrison Ringo Starr John Lennon #NowAndThen
Great review, thanks!
John once told Paul and I can't remember the reason said Think of me Now And Then.. This was a great farewell! First watched them on Ed Sullivan 1964. It is not a cash grab because .Paul is a billionaire and gives money to an arts school and other charities .Ringo gives all his earnings to charities. Georges family give to charity and Johns also..No cash grab hear. It Is a fantastic song and a great way to say good bye. .People are trying to compare this song to others don't .Every song they wrote or created was different they had no genre. They changed music and innovated the way it was done and opened many doors. Thank you
and Ringo. The Ringo swing is there… and his drums sound great … He's very clean. It's been a long and winding turntable.
I have now seen several reaction videos to this song. Your dissection is by far the best. Great points. Very insightful. Well done.
Nancy – I am putting a link here to Sangah Noona's cover of the Beatles new song ("Now And Then") because I think you will likely enjoy it. It is her own piano arrangement of the song that she was inspired to make after hearing the new song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDZadbTolIQ
❤
What a great review! The best i see on the internet. Thank you!