Watch and Learn - The Beatles - Now And Then - The Last Beatles Song (Short Film)

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[Film reel spinning]

Film reel spinning

[Engineer] Two take one. Solid turnover.

Engineer Two take one Solid turnover

[Disparate Beatles’ voices] Are you ready, Ringo? Aren’t we doing it. we’re on.

Disparate Beatles’ voices Are you ready Ringo Aren’t we doing it we’re on

One. Two. Three. Four!

One Two Three Four

Which key is it in, really?

Which key is it in really

One, two, three, four.

One two three four

-Ringo! George’s tuned up.

Ringo George’s tuned up

Oh, hey there.

Oh hey there

-[Indistinct dialogue] -I’m ready to sing to the world.

Indistinct dialogue I’m ready to sing to the world

I hope we pass the audition.

I hope we pass the audition

[indistinct dialogue]

indistinct dialogue

What would it sound like with the bass doing a funny thing?

What would it sound like with the bass doing a funny thing

Keep that one. Mark it “fab.”

Keep that one Mark it “fab”

[Somber music playing]

Somber music playing

[Paul] Making good music in a band is all about chemistry.

Paul Making good music in a band is all about chemistry

The way our four very different personalities combined

The way our four very different personalities combined

in The Beatles was something very special.

in The Beatles was something very special

[Audience screaming]

Audience screaming

When we lost John, we knew that it was really over.

When we lost John we knew that it was really over

but in 1994,

but in 1994

amazingly, an interesting opportunity arose

amazingly an interesting opportunity arose

where we could make more music together.

where we could make more music together

[George] If we were to do something, the three of us,

George If we were to do something the three of us

as interesting as it may be,

as interesting as it may be

to have John in it is the obvious thing.

to have John in it is the obvious thing

I was talking to Yoko, and she said,

I was talking to Yoko and she said

“ah, I think i’ve got a tape of John.”

“ah I think i’ve got a tape of John”

[Paul] we were pretty excited.

Paul we were pretty excited

New John song, amazing!

New John song amazing

[George] To hear John’s voice, that’s a thing that we should cherish.

George To hear John’s voice that’s a thing that we should cherish

I’m sure he would’ve really enjoyed that opportunity to be with us again.

I’m sure he would’ve really enjoyed that opportunity to be with us again

[Ringo] We could use John and try and make a record.

Ringo We could use John and try and make a record

It was the closest we'll ever come to having him back in the room

It was the closest we'll ever come to having him back in the room

[Recharging]

Recharging

[Tape rolling]

Tape rolling

[Music fades out]

Music fades out

[Fog horn blaring]

Fog horn blaring

[Sean] I do remember living at the Dakota with dad and mum.

Sean I do remember living at the Dakota with dad and mum

There’s this impression that my dad stopped doing music for a while to raise me,

There’s this impression that my dad stopped doing music for a while to raise me

which I think is partially true in terms of him not touring

which I think is partially true in terms of him not touring

and not fulfilling any major record label obligations.

and not fulfilling any major record label obligations

but he was always playing music around the house.

but he was always playing music around the house

He was always making demos

He was always making demos

and I do remember him recording into these tape cassette recorders.

and I do remember him recording into these tape cassette recorders

mum had these handful of songs that my dad hadn’t finished.

mum had these handful of songs that my dad hadn’t finished

and she gave them to the other beatles.

and she gave them to the other beatles

[whimsical music playing]

whimsical music playing

[Paul] George and Ringo came down to my studio.

Paul George and Ringo came down to my studio

[Paul] Nice day?

Paul Nice day

[Ringo] Fabulous day.

Ringo Fabulous day

[Paul] We listened to the track.

Paul We listened to the track

[piano playing]

piano playing

There’s John in his apartment in New York city,

There’s John in his apartment in New York city

banging away at his piano, doing a little demo.

banging away at his piano doing a little demo

Is it something we shouldn’t do?

Is it something we shouldn’t do

Every time I thought like that I thought, “wait a minute.”

Every time I thought like that I thought “wait a minute”

Let's say I had a chance to ask John,

Let's say I had a chance to ask John

“hey John, would you like us to finish this last song of yours?”

“hey John would you like us to finish this last song of yours”

I’m telling you,

I’m telling you

I know the answer would’ve been “yeah!”

I know the answer would’ve been “yeah”

He would’ve loved that.

He would’ve loved that

[Tape rolling]

Tape rolling

[Piano playing]

Piano playing

[John on tape] ♪ I know it’s true ♪

John on tape I know it’s true

♪ it’s all because of you… ♪

it’s all because of you

[Ringo] There was very strange when we started that there’s only three of us

Ringo There was very strange when we started that there’s only three of us

after all those years

after all those years

and all that life.

and all that life

[Ringo] John? John, put the kettle on.

Ringo John John put the kettle on

[Indistinct chatter]

Indistinct chatter

[Laughing]

Laughing

[George playing a misremembered version of “Norwegian wood”]

George playing a misremembered version of “Norwegian wood”

[Laughing]

Laughing

[Paul] We did “Free as a bird”

Paul We did “Free as a bird”

and “Real love”

and “Real love”

and we got a little bit of time left to do “Now and then.”

and we got a little bit of time left to do “Now and then”

[Ringo] When we started “Now and then,”

Ringo When we started “Now and then”

it was very difficult because John was sort of hidden in a way.

it was very difficult because John was sort of hidden in a way

[Tape playing]

Tape playing

[Paul] On John’s demo tape, the piano was a little hard to hear.

Paul On John’s demo tape the piano was a little hard to hear

And in those days, of course, we didn’t have the technology

And in those days of course we didn’t have the technology

to do the separation.

to do the separation

[John on tape] ♪ ...for sure  that i... ♪

John on tape for sure  that i

you know this computer stuff?

you know this computer stuff

You know I was telling you a year ago, Jeff was doing this thing on his computer,

You know I was telling you a year ago Jeff was doing this thing on his computer

but it opens up a whole other kettle of fish, as to…

but it opens up a whole other kettle of fish as to

can of worms?

can of worms

but will it open another year of work?

but will it open another year of work

[Ringo] It really brought to the fore,

Ringo It really brought to the fore

to the three of us, that John’s gone.

to the three of us that John’s gone

[Contemplative music playing]

Contemplative music playing

[Piano playing]

Piano playing

[Paul] Every time I wanted a little bit more of John’s voice,

Paul Every time I wanted a little bit more of John’s voice

this piano came through and clouded the picture.

this piano came through and clouded the picture

[John on tape] ♪ It’s all because of you… ♪

John on tape It’s all because of you

[Paul] I think we kind of ran out of steam a bit and time,

Paul I think we kind of ran out of steam a bit and time

and it was like, “well, I don’t know. maybe we’ll leave this one.”

and it was like “well I don’t know maybe we’ll leave this one”

[Piano continues playing]

Piano continues playing

Uh, I don't know if i'll see you soon.

Uh I don't know if i'll see you soon

[laughing]

laughing

-okay, see you next year. -see you next week.

okay see you next year see you next week

[Paul] “Now and then” just kind of languished in a cupboard.

Paul “Now and then” just kind of languished in a cupboard

[door slamming]

door slamming

[Contemplative music playing]

Contemplative music playing

[Paul] and then in 2001, we lost George,

Paul and then in 2001 we lost George

which kind of took the wind out of our sails.

which kind of took the wind out of our sails

[Music continuing]

Music continuing

[Paul] It took almost a quarter of a century for us to wait until the right moment

Paul It took almost a quarter of a century for us to wait until the right moment

to tackle “Now and then” again.

to tackle “Now and then” again

[suspensul music playing]

suspensul music playing

[Paul] with the technology that Peter Jackson and his team

Paul with the technology that Peter Jackson and his team

had worked out during the Get back movie,

had worked out during the Get back movie

he’d been able to separate off certain instruments and voices.

he’d been able to separate off certain instruments and voices

[Peter] during the course of Get back,

Peter during the course of Get back

we were paying a lot of attention to the technical restoration.

we were paying a lot of attention to the technical restoration

that ultimately lead us to develop a technology,

that ultimately lead us to develop a technology

which allows us to take any soundtrack,

which allows us to take any soundtrack

and split all the different components

and split all the different components

into separate tracks based on machine learning.

into separate tracks based on machine learning

[Ringo] Peter Jackson has the “mal” machine…

Ringo Peter Jackson has the “mal” machine

[Ringo on tape] Morning, Paul…

Ringo on tape Morning Paul

[Ringo] …which could lift anything.

Ringo which could lift anything

[Ringo on tape] …How are you this morning?

Ringo on tape How are you this morning

[Paul] We thought, “well, we’d better send John’s voice to them

Paul We thought “well we’d better send John’s voice to them

off the original cassette.”

off the original cassette”

[Sean] my dad would’ve loved that,

Sean my dad would’ve loved that

because he was never shy to experiment with recording technology.

because he was never shy to experiment with recording technology

I think it’s really beautiful.

I think it’s really beautiful

[Dials and signals whirring]

Dials and signals whirring

[Paul] They said this is the sound of john’s voice.

Paul They said this is the sound of john’s voice

[Paul imitates computer noise]

Paul imitates computer noise

A few seconds later or however long it took,

A few seconds later or however long it took

and there it was: John’s voice,

and there it was: John’s voice

crystal clear.

crystal clear

[Music stopping at its climax]

Music stopping at its climax

[John on tape] ♪ I know it’s true ♪

John on tape I know it’s true

♪ it’s all because of you ♪

it’s all because of you

♪ and if I make it through ♪

and if I make it through

♪ it’s all because... ♪

it’s all because

♪ of you ♪

of you

-[Engineer] Do it again. -[Ringo] Since, uh, Peter took John off

Engineer Do it again Ringo Since uh Peter took John off

and gave him his own track,

and gave him his own track

it was like John’s there, you know. It’s far out.

it was like John’s there you know It’s far out

[Paul] So in the mix,

Paul So in the mix

we could lift John’s voice without lifting the piano,

we could lift John’s voice without lifting the piano

which had always been one of the problems.

which had always been one of the problems

Now we could mix it and make a proper record of it.

Now we could mix it and make a proper record of it

[Paul] I pulled it out, had a listen to it, and thought,

Paul I pulled it out had a listen to it and thought

“Oh, I could actually do the bass a bit better, so why don’t I start there.”

“Oh I could actually do the bass a bit better so why don’t I start there”

[“Now and then” playing]

“Now and then” playing

[John in recording] ♪ and now and then ♪

John in recording and now and then

[Ringo] Paul called me up and said he’d like to work on “Now and then.”

Ringo Paul called me up and said he’d like to work on “Now and then”

What do you think? I think it’s great.

What do you think I think it’s great

So he put the bass on, he sent the files to me, I put the drums on.

So he put the bass on he sent the files to me I put the drums on

[Drums playing]

Drums playing

[Paul] It really brought it on, you know,

Paul It really brought it on you know

and so now we had a track that was really starting to cook.

and so now we had a track that was really starting to cook

[“Now and then” ending]

“Now and then” ending

[Paul] I'd been vaguely thinking strings might be a good thing.

Paul I'd been vaguely thinking strings might be a good thing

The Beatles did lots of string things, you know:

The Beatles did lots of string things you know:

“Strawberry fields,” “Yesterday,” “I am the walrus.”

“Strawberry fields” “Yesterday” “I am the walrus”

[Strings playing]

Strings playing

[Paul] We wanted to go to capitol studios,

Paul We wanted to go to capitol studios

because that had been EMI, and it was sort of “Beatley.”

because that had been EMI and it was sort of “Beatley”

Giles worked up an arrangement like Giles’s dad would have done in the old days.

Giles worked up an arrangement like Giles’s dad would have done in the old days

[String music intensifying]

String music intensifying

[Paul] We had to put the music out on the stands for the musicians,

Paul We had to put the music out on the stands for the musicians

but we couldn’t tell them it was a new beatles song.

but we couldn’t tell them it was a new beatles song

It was all a bit hush-hush.

It was all a bit hush-hush

We pretended it was just something of mine.

We pretended it was just something of mine

[Strings holding the last note]

Strings holding the last note

[Paul] On the new record, there’s a guitar solo.

Paul On the new record there’s a guitar solo

[Guitar playing]

Guitar playing

[Paul] We had kept George’s guitar parts from ’95.

Paul We had kept George’s guitar parts from ’95

And I thought what i’d like to do

And I thought what i’d like to do

is do a slide guitar solo in George’s style.

is do a slide guitar solo in George’s style

[Guitar continuing]

Guitar continuing

[Paul] It was really a tribute to George.

Paul It was really a tribute to George

And then we started mixing it.

And then we started mixing it

Wow, this is it. Now it’s a Beatle record.

Wow this is it Now it’s a Beatle record

[Engineer] Okay, one, two.

Engineer Okay one two

[“Now and then” playing]

“Now and then” playing

[Sean] It was incredibly touching to hear them working together

Sean It was incredibly touching to hear them working together

after all the years that my dad had been gone.

after all the years that my dad had been gone

[John] ♪ I know it’s true… ♪

John I know it’s true

[Sean] it’s the last song

Sean it’s the last song

that my dad, and Paul, and George, and Ringo will get to make together.

that my dad and Paul and George and Ringo will get to make together

[John] ♪ and if I make it through ♪

John and if I make it through

♪ it’s all because ♪

it’s all because

♪ of you ♪

of you

[Paul] All of those memories come flooding back.

Paul All of those memories come flooding back

My god, how lucky was I to have those men in my life

My god how lucky was I to have those men in my life

and to work with those men so intimately

and to work with those men so intimately

and to come up with such a body of music.

and to come up with such a body of music

[Contemplative music playing]

Contemplative music playing

[Paul] To still be working on Beatles’ music in 2023:

Paul To still be working on Beatles’ music in 2023:

Wow!

Wow

We’re actually messing around

We’re actually messing around

with state of the art technology,

with state of the art technology

which is something The Beatles would’ve been very interested in.

which is something The Beatles would’ve been very interested in

“Now and then,” it’s probably, like, the last Beatles song,

“Now and then” it’s probably like the last Beatles song

and we’ve all played on it,

and we’ve all played on it

so it is a genuine Beatle recording.

so it is a genuine Beatle recording

[Indistinct chatter]

Indistinct chatter

[Audience screams crescendoing]

Audience screams crescendoing

[Paul] I'll tell you what,

Paul I'll tell you what

why don’t you just give me a little bit

of his original demo

to sort of hear how he’s playing the piano?

to sort of hear how he’s playing the piano

[George] that part could be played on, like, another thing.

George that part could be played on like another thing

-[Paul] Ringo can play it on his drums. -[Ringo] I can.

Paul Ringo can play it on his drums Ringo I can

[Paul] tuned tom toms. dum dum dum.

Paul tuned tom toms dum dum dum

[George] We’ll come in after this.

George We’ll come in after this

[Paul] yeah, and i’m thinking verse three could be,

Paul yeah and i’m thinking verse three could be

like, the intro again, you know.

like the intro again you know

[Ringo] start again. [Laughs]

Ringo start again Laughs

[George] Whoa, when are we ever going to get to sleep?

George Whoa when are we ever going to get to sleep

Now there’s a good question.

Now there’s a good question

No rest for the wicked.

No rest for the wicked

[Paul] Din, son. Do it now.

Paul Din son Do it now

[George] Go on then. back it up a bit.

George Go on then back it up a bit

[Drums banging]

Drums banging

[Whistling]

Whistling

[Paul] Can I just hear John’s, then?

Paul Can I just hear John’s then

[Music ends]

Music ends

Talking speed

Stop/Pause Stop

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