The first time I heard "Now And Then", I was confused. I'd read that with the help of AI, John Lennon's voice had been isolated and enhanced. Thus, when the song began playing I wondered why Paul was singing lead on this Lennon-penned song. Of course it wasn't Paul, but John singing in a higher register than what we've become used to, rather than Paul's Wings voice. Maybe that's why the two always melded so well -- they could inadvertently mirror each other.
My
second thought was, well, that's not a very good song. John wrote it
during his solo years, which were hit and miss. (Who knows what his solo
career could have become?) Had he proferred it during the waning
Beatles days, would it have even been recorded? Perhaps. (When George
heard it, he proclaimed that it was "fucking rubbish".
Third, I thought, well, that's definitely George's guitar. Certain musicians' solos are instantly recognizable. Mark Knopfler comes to mind. Eric Clapton as well. You know them when you hear them. Hearing George was melancholy, yet comforting.
So, to sum up:
1. That's not John (it is)
2. The song isn't great
3. I miss George
Then I watched the video, and I suddenly liked the song more. Video, when executed well, so much enhances a recording, and after all, this is The Beatles.
To complete the circle, the recording was produced by Giles Martin, George Martin's son, and the inclusion of a string section is classic Martin (senior). And the truth is, the song has grown on me. So, if this is truly the "last" Beatles song, I'm okay with it.
