The Beatles might just take home an award tonight from the Brit Awards, despite having broken up over half a century ago.
The Fab Four have been nominated for Best Single for their “last ever” song titled “Now And Then”. The song had been shelved for decades before officially getting an official release in 2023.
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If The Beatles actually win, it will come at a record 47 years after their very first nomination in that category. The band was first nominated for “She Loves You” in 1977, back when the Brit Awards gave out their honors for performances over the previous quarter-century.
“Now And Then” has been dubbed “the very last Beatles song”, and we’re inclined to agree. Nobody really knows when a lost recording might pop up in the future. That being said, it does look like “Now And Then” might be the very last release from the Fab Four.
The Fascinating History Behind The Beatles’ “Now And Then”
“Now And Then” was originally written as a ballad that John Lennon recorded in his home studio in 1977. The song was left unfinished. However, it was considered a solid single to finish up and add to the band’s The Beatles Anthology project after Lennon’s death in 1980. Sadly, because of issues with production, the song was shelved for decades.
It wasn’t until 2023 that the two surviving Beatles decided to add some overdubs and guitar tracks to the song and release it. “Now And Then” also features guitar tracks from the late George Harrison. Those tracks were recorded during the band’s abandoned group sessions in 1995.
Paul McCartney added a few extra lyrics to the final version. The song also features Lennon’s voice, which was extracted from the demo using audio restoration technology with the help of The Beatles: Get Back director Peter Jackson.
Since its release, “Now And Then” has gotten a lot of love from critics and fans alike. Some have heralded the single as the perfect “finale” for The Beatles’ career. It even nabbed the band a Grammy Award last year, as well as a nomination for Record of the Year.
Stay tuned to see if The Beatles make music history at the Brit Awards tonight! The ceremony will take place tonight at the O2 Arena in London. Fans can watch the ceremony at about 3:15 pm ET via ITV1 or ITV.
Photo by Hans J. Hoffmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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