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I’m near tears.
I just listened to the AI-constructed Beatles song,Now and Then.
Now and Then on Apple Music, including some of the liner notes.
I blame AI, I blame the surviving Beatles, and I blame my easily manipulated heart.
I grew up listening to the Beatles.
I’m not surprised at the mournful nature ofNow and Then.
Now and Then on Apple Music, including some of the liner notes.
It fits with Lennon’s oeuvre.
Just listen to 1971’sImaginealbum.
It’s basically perfect.
That’s a problem.
There are some who may be celebrating this one last Beatles tune.
I won’t be one of them.
The beauty of The Beatles is the mass of magnificent creativity they attained in seven short years.
It was an explosion, leaving them all emotionally exhausted.
They were done with each other and ready to explore new creative possibilities.
To their credit, all four of the Beatles went on to illustrious solo careers.
Many of The Beatles' songs were about living in that moment and remembering the good times.
Emotionless AI knows only the task and, yes, it can do it.
If there are pieces to assemble into a cohesive whole, it can do it.
If there are gaps, it can fill them.
Now and Thenis unmistakably a vintage Beatles tune.
It’s also unmistakably not.
I doubt Ringo Star and Paul McCarney were ever in the same room to record their tracks.
Correction 11-3-2023: The original article listed Lennon’s Imagine as releasing in 1981.
The correct year is 1971.
We regret the error.
