How the Beatles created John Lennon's AI Voice: A remarkable collaboration

In music history, few bands stand as titans like The Beatles. These legends, comprising Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, left an indelible mark on the global musical landscape. Decades later, we've learned that their legacy is about to take a futuristic twist. On BBC Radio 4, Sir Paul McCartney revealed that The Beatles are about to release a new song, and “final record” crafted with the sophisticated touch of artificial intelligence and the late John Lennon's voice.

The first look at AI with the Beatles

The idea for the song came about during the making of the 2021 documentary "The Beatles: Get Back." Director Peter Jackson and his team employed AI technology to separate the Beatles' voices from the background noise and instruments on the documentary's audio recordings, during which they were able to extricate John’s voice “from a ropey little bit of cassette” as Paul McCartney explained in an interview with BBC.

“It had John’s voice and a piano; he could separate them with AI. They tell the machine: ‘That’s a voice, this is a guitar, lose the guitar.’ And he did that. So [AI] has great uses,” McCartney said.

The Beatles’ new AI-enhanced song

The documentary gave McCartney the idea to use AI to extract Lennon's vocals from old demos.

After the film, Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, gave McCartney an old demo cassette with several songs, which Lennon recorded and labeled “For Paul” before he died in 1980. Details have not been released about which new song will be included on The Beatles’ final album, and first album since their last released album Let It Be in 1970, but the BBC and others have rumored it’s likely to be an unfinished 1978 love song Lennon titled “Now and Then.”

When The Beatles were putting together their Anthology series in 1995, "Now and Then" was once thought of as a potential reunion track. From Lennon's tapes, they released "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love,” with the remaining band members, McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, doing duets that echoed the spirit of the late musician. They attempted to record "Now and Then," but the effort was halted due to the poor audio quality of Lennon's voice on the recording and George Harrison calling it "rubbish.”

How the Beatles used AI to add John Lennon’s voice to the final Beatles song

With the help of AI technology, the team was able to extract Lennon's vocal track from the demo tape and enhance its quality. The result was a clear and distinct representation of Lennon's voice, allowing for a seamless integration into a new song.

"We were able to take John's voice and get it pure through this AI, so that then we could mix the record as you would normally do. So, it gives you some sort of leeway,” McCartney explained.

The Beatles’ final album

The song will be featured on what McCartney is calling “the final Beatles record.” As for Paul McCartney, whose images from the heydays of Beatlemania are currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery and who continues to perform, recently at the Glastonbury Festival, the collaboration holds special significance. The new song serves as a tribute to their partnership and the enduring legacy of the Beatles.

The new song, infused with the late John Lennon's voice, isn't just a duet between Lennon and his bandmates but between the past and future of the music industry.

How AI can change the future of music

The use of AI in music has the potential to revolutionize the industry. It opens up possibilities for artists to collaborate with past musicians, reimagining and creating new compositions.

As we look to the future, AI technology holds the potential to reshape the way we create and experience music, ensuring that the voices and legacies of legendary artists like John Lennon, which were played on boomboxes for years, continue to resonate for generations to come.

As Paul McCartney explains, “It's kind of scary but exciting, because it's the future. We'll just have to see where that leads."

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FAQ

Was there an AI Drake song?

Earlier this year, a track titled “Heart on My Sleeve,” went viral before being taken down by streaming services after a TikTok user named Ghostwriter977, who had trained AI on Drake and The Weeknd’s works, generated the new song using deepfake and AI technology, fooling fans across the globe.

What made John Lennon's voice unique?

John Lennon's voice was unique because of its raw emotion, nasality, distinctive timbre, and ability to convey both vulnerability and power.

Why did John Lennon's voice change?

John Lennon's voice changed over time due to factors like age, smoking, and natural vocal wear from constant singing and performing. Additionally, the powerful performance he gave on the song, “Twist and Shout” injured his larynx, after which Lennon said, “My voice wasn’t the same for a long time after."

What was John Lennon's voice type?

John Lennon was a baritone.

What is a vocoder?

A vocoder is an electronic device or software that modifies or manipulates a voice by combining it with a synthesized musical tone, often producing robotic or electronic voice effects.

What musical instruments did the Beatles use?

The Beatles used a variety of musical instruments. John Lennon played the guitar, piano, harmonica, trumpet, and violin. Paul McCartney played the bass guitar, piano, drums, and saxophone. George Harrison played acoustic and electric guitars as well as the sitar and tambura. Last but not least, Ringo Starr played the drums.