The Beatles Prepare To Return Using Artificial Intelligence In Their Last Record

Sir Paul McCartney, during an interview with the BBC. (photo: Twitter @PaulMcCartney)

JAKARTA - More than 50 years since all members of The Beatles released music, with their emotional classic song, 'The End'. However, despite only two remaining members - Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - the band is set to return.

McCartney revealed that he used artificial intelligence (AI) to 'isolate' John Lennon's voice from an old demo recording to create 'The Beatles' last record'.

While he hasn't given the song name yet, it's most likely the 1978 composition of John Lennon entitled "Now And Then", according to the BBC.

"We just finished it and it will be released this year." Now And Then" was one of the songs Lennon recorded shortly before his death in 1980, McCartney said, at the Today show on Radio 4.

Two other songs - "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" - were cleaned by producer Jeff Lynne before its release in 1995 and 1996.

However, Lynne struggled to clean up the song "Now And Then" and her effort was considered 'bad' by George Harrison, who refused to work on the song.

However, AI technology provides an opportunity for McCartney to liven up the song once again.

McCartney explained to Martha Kearney on Radio 4 how she allied herself with director Peter Jackson, who used AI to create clear audio in the documentary "Get Back".

"He [Jackson] can isolate John's voice from a piece of cassette that is not of good quality. We have John's voice and piano, and he can separate the two from AI. They tell the machine, 'This is the sound. This is the guitar. Remove the guitar'," McCartney said, quoted by DailyMail.com.

"So when we make the footage that will be the last footage of The Beatles, it is a demo recording that John has. We can take John's voice and make it pure through this AI," he said. "Then we can mix the recording, as usual. So give us a little bit of space to work."

It's not clear when McCartney plans to release the'Beatles' last record this year.

The Beatles weren't the only band to use AI to complete unfinished songs. Last month, Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant also said that AI could 'filling a void' if a song was not finished, for example when composers had a deadlock in ideas.

Tennant and his teammate, Chris Lowe, said they were looking at new technologies as they prepare for their best hit tour titled 'Dreamworld' in Europe this summer.

"There was a song we wrote in the chorus in 2003 and we never finished it because I couldn't imagine what would be written for the verse part," Tennant told Radio Times.

"But now, with AI, you can give the parts you have written, press the button, and let AI fill in that void. You may then rewrite it, but it can still be a useful tool," said Tennant.

While McCartney plans the release of "The Beatles' last list" this year, he also has another project that will launch. His latest book titled "1964: Eyes of the Storm, Photographs and Reflections by Paul McCartney" will be published by Badminton Press starting June 13, 2023.

'1964: #EyesOfTheStorm' is Paul's personal record of an explosive time in music history. It includes:📷 275 of Paul's photographs✍️ Foreword and city introductions by Paul📝 Essays by Jill Lepore and curator Rosie BroadleyPre-order your copy: https://t.co/CDhNTSvR47 pic.twitter.com/4s5cfj4GYi

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) June 10, 2023

'1964: #EyesOfTheStorm' is Paul's personal record of an explosive time in music history. It includes:📷 275 of Paul's photographs✍️ Foreword and city introductions by Paul📝 Essays by Jill Lepore and curator Rosie BroadleyPre-order your copy: https://t.co/CDhNTSvR47 pic.twitter.com/4s5cfj4GYi

In addition, an exhibition will be held entitled "Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm" at the National Portrait Gallery, London, which will take place from June 28 to October 1, 2023.

The return of The Beatles using artificial intelligence to complete the unfinished song is an interesting development in the music industry. AI opens up opportunities for musicians to revive works that are not yet perfect and provide new possibilities in the creative process.

The Beatles fans can look forward to this latest release as a tribute to the legacy of this iconic band and as a moment that marks the end of their musical journey.