Growing up as a teenager I enjoyed the pulsating music of three bands – The Beatles, The Eagles and Journey. I was delighted like millions of fans to hear the new song of The Beatles, released recently. It was an emotional experience. Now And Then – was originally a demo written and recorded in 1977 by former Beatles’ member John Lennon. An apologetic love song, it’s fairly typical of John Lennon’s solo output of the 1970s.
The Fab Four’s “emotional” farewell single Now And Then is available for fans 45 years later. The Beatles are widely regarded as one of the most influential musical groups in contemporary history.
Their triumphs were a direct result of their talent and commitment to experimenting with new approaches. They were never hesitant to try out new instruments and sounds. The band consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – 4 good friends who came together.
The song was completed at last by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, among others, after new technology helped extract Lennon’s vocals from the original demo, while George Harrison guitar parts from the initial attempt to finish the track were also incorporated into the song.The Beatles are often regarded as the most influential band of all time. What distinguishes them from the others is the lasting impact they have left on music. As one of the decades’s defining bands of the 1960s, the Beatles thoroughly engaged themselves in everything. Their love for their craft could be seen, heard and felt even decades later.
Melancholic Tune
Released on November 2, “Now and Then” debuted on the UK’s Official Singles Chart at No. 42 the following day. Just over a week later, on Friday, the melancholic tune reached No. 1. The Beatles set a new record coming back 60 years and six months after their first UK No. 1, “From Me To You,” in May 1963, according to Official Charts, beating Elvis Presley’s span of 47 years and six months.“Now and Then” is the fastest-selling single of the year so far in the UK, with 48,600 physical and download sales in its first week, as well as 78,200 combined UK chart units across sales and streaming. Critics have been broadly positive about Now And Then, with the Guardian giving it four stars out of five, and calling it “an affecting tribute to the band’s bond”.
“Now and Then” features the sound of every member of the British rock group, including the vocals of the late John Lennon decades after he wrote it, as well as a guitar solo from the late George Harrison. For Now And Then, the software was able to “lift” Lennon’s voice from the original cassette recording, removing the background hiss that had hampered previous attempts to complete the song. In McCartney’s words Lennon’s voice is “crystal clear” on Now And Then.
At the ages of 81 and 83 respectively, McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr have made The Beatles the oldest band to claim a UK No.1 single, according to Official Charts. Sir Paul said the experience of recording Now And Then was “magical”. “Now and Then” becomes The Beatles’ 35th Hot 100 top 10, extending their record for the most among groups. The Rolling Stones rank second among groups with 23 top 10s, followed by Chicago and The Supremes, each with 20.
Back in the day, The Beatles changed the attitude of how the young behaved. The band promoted the right to self-expression and persuaded the generation that love was the answer. They have inspired millions of people to see the light in moments of darkness with their works of peace, love, and anti-war songs, bringing unbridled joy and uplifting everyone who listened. Furthermore, their songs’ messages still resonate today, proving just how much one band with good intentions could influence an entire generation and more generations to come. The Beatles’ triumphant tours of America opened the doors for a “British invasion” that allowed other bands, including The Rolling Stones, to become huge in the US.
Artistic Evolutions
The Beatles grew creative with their music. They popularized the concept of a full-length album in the late 1960s, setting the groundwork for other bands’ artistic evolutions. The Beatles were the masters of experimenting – they were always trying out new sounds, lyrics, studio technology, and even cover art. To them, music and art aren’t something to settle with but a medium that you could stretch to the limits and create deft and bold creations with.
The album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has repeatedly been classed as the greatest album ever to be made. It might not have been the band’s most creative album, but it was one that further revolutionized recording processes. The production of Sgt Pepper was the result of new standards in expertise and innovation. An estimated 700 hours of work went into recording the album according to producer George Martin.
Throughout the majority of the 1960s, the Beatles dominated pop charts, breaking several sales and attendance records all over the globe. This quick rise to success sparked “Beatlemania” in 1963 – a term used to describe the incredibly devoted fans that would follow the band all over the country. These (mainly female) fans paved the way for boy band culture, influencing how fans react at shows even to this day. Beatlemania spread across the world and even helped change attitudes about Western culture among the young in communist bloc countries during a Cold War era that was still reeling from the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Beatles sparked changes in the way teenagers walked, talked and dressed. The shaggy haircut, known as a mop-top, suddenly became popular in the early 60s and long hair became more socially acceptable. The band also popularized Cuban-heeled boots, known as “Beatle boots”. Later, in their more psychedelic phase, they inspired imitators to grow moustaches and beards.
The Beatles have had a lot of movies made about them. This includes ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, released in 1964. This movie’s soundtrack was written by the Beatles, making it the first album for the band to write from start to finish. John Lennon’s anti-war campaigns – and his song of peace, ‘Imagine’ – still resonate five decades later. One must remember that what The Beatles communicated in their music, was unbridled joy. They will shine forever.
Dishan Joseph