Jen, my brother puts the song in a similar vein as the "other" former Beatles playing their parts on George's 1981 hit "All Those Years Ago" and the solo Ringo 1973 album "RINGO" (the one that included the Ringo song "I Am The Greatest"). And to respond to the commenter on the Judy Garland topic, the Beatles and she had a few things in common in the 1960s, as they were both recording in the U.S. with Capitol Records and both performed at the Palladium in London and Carnegie Hall in New York, I can't definitively say that Garland was performing at some point in Vegas although that was probably likely and the Beatles concert tour reached Vegas right after the "A Hard Day's Night" movie was in the theaters.
I thought the video was trash from first viewing, very surprising since it was directed by Peter Jackson. It never got in the way of my enjoyment of the song though. I never thought of Free As A Bird or Real Love as official Beatles songs but I think all three are consistent with the Threatles’ solo careers at the time. Other people’s enthusiasm for the track have fueled my own appreciation. I’ve heard a few different cover bands take it on and it is always an emotional highlight.
My excitement for Now & Then wasn’t as heightened as it perhaps was for other fans last year as I’d been listening to an unofficial “fan version” that the Paul Is Dead conspiracy theorist iamaphoney was behind a good decade or more beforehand. And to be honest I still think that version is better! I recommend you having a listen, especially in comparison to the proper canonical Beatles version. And don’t get me started on the N&T video! 😂 I still cringe-laugh at that scene of modern Paul and Ringo jamming in the studio with John and George! It’s a good song, I’m glad it came out, but if Id only had the iamaphoney version for the rest of my life, I’d have been happy enough. Now, when are we going to get the TRUE “new” Beatles song, All For Love…? 🤔 Great video Jen 👍🏼
I know exactly which version of the song you mean, and thank you for reminding me who it was that did it! (I was trying to find it again like crazy when the song was released last year so I could explain to people why I was disappointed, since THAT was the version I had been listening to for ages up til then, and had gotten me so excited for what could possibly exist if we ever got the song, so imagine my surprise when we get the official version, and it just....isn't even that different from the demo, really.) Agreed 100% too about the video being so cringe in spots that it's hilarious -- I'm open minded, I could overlook the fact that Paul and Ringo are as they are now playing with young George and John, but I think it's the different in video quality of how crisp they look, then you see George and John next to them and and it just feels *weird*. I'm sure tons of work went into the making of the video, and I'm not knocking whoever created it, BUT what I am saying is that it falls into the whole uncanny valley thing and I think it's why it just feels so *off*. For how many people were posting that it had them crying when it came out, I was over here like wow, really....? And yes, I know that obviously the sentimentality is going to be different for a first generation fan than it is for someone who wasn't even born til the 80s, but there've been PLENTY of Beatles things that had be crying buckets over nostalgia and sentimentality and this just didn't do it for me, then or now. And yet....the version Paul uses behind him playing it live? That one elicited more of an emotional response from me, so go figure. I felt like I was being gaslit super hard last year for being in the minority of people who wasn't all over this thing, and almost felt guilty that I wasn't having more of a response to it than I did, but at this point, I think I was valid in being pretty meh about this one. (Still wish we'd get an updated Anthology, though. And *that* is where I feel this project belongs, not on the red/blue albums.) Now, what is this All For Love you speak of....? This is new to me!
@ I agree with you, N&T would have felt much more at home on an updated Anthology rather than the Red & Blue reissue. As for All For Love, it was a track that Paul, George and Ringo began work on in March 1995 (there was no John demo involved, it was a totally new Threetles composition) but they weren’t satisfied with the progress (at least that’s the excuse they gave!) and abandoned the sessions. On the safe assumption that Paul and Ringo would have to work on it some more to get it up to release-quality, I don’t think I’ll ever hear All For Love in my lifetime 😥 It would have been interesting to say the least to hear a completely new Beatles song, though with there being no Lennon involvement whatsoever, I can imagine there’d be a good deal of detractors and complainers! So in that respect, I can understand why the Threetles didn’t persevere, at least not if they didn’t think the track was all that strong in the first place
I think it’s worse now! Paul vanity project.. it’s a stain on their legacy! Ps I love the other two songs before anyone says I’m hating.. Also where’s mayos fake crying into a phone video? DELETED! Says it all!😂
Hi jen wow I can't believe it's been a year i don't know i still love this song there's something about it that gets to me i think because it reminds me of my late friend although i do agree it is not a great song maybe not even a good one there's just something about it i like but maybe im too emotionally invested in it i do like the video too although the one paul has been showing is fantastic i also think Paul has been doing well singing it
As you learn more about The Beatles, you will realize that most of their vast catalogue of songs were John songs, or Paul songs, or George songs. The more you listen, the more you'll understand.
I love Now and Then. I think you have to remove the context and just appreciate the song. The bridge (the "I don't want to lose you, abuse you" lyrics) has been cut from the original, which makes it a very different song to John's original intention. I also don't think from what he said in interviews in the early 70's that he would approve of his demos being used in this way. I think Paul McCartney's slide guitar sounds pretty good, but it also feels like it's supposed to be a tribute to George rather than his own style. I think the intention of the video is to get first generation fans misty eyed with nostalgia, and it probably works. I find it hard to separate Free as a Bird, Real Love and Now and Then from John's passing. Had he died of natural causes instead of some lunatic shooting him on the streets I think the context of the songs would feel different again. Anyway, in short, I just put the single on the turntable (what on earth is it doing on 1967-1970?) and listen to it just as a song and forget the context and I think it's a great song.
I don't see it as a Beatles track either. It is a John song and a not very good one at that. I also don't look at Free as a Bird or Real Love as Beatles tracks but both are much better than Now and Then. I can't believe it's a full year since it was released. Time is flying by...
I'm glad that it's not just me that just really isn't sold on it. I'm not sure I'd actively go out of my way to turn it off if it came on shuffle at this point, but I also wouldn't go out of my way to put it on on purpose lol
Imo, it's better without the video, videos, generally speaking, are usually distracting to the Music anyway, upstaging the flowing ethereal melody, Loved it then, Love it now
Jen, my brother puts the song in a similar vein as the "other" former Beatles playing their parts on George's 1981 hit "All Those Years Ago" and the solo Ringo 1973 album "RINGO" (the one that included the Ringo song "I Am The Greatest"). And to respond to the commenter on the Judy Garland topic, the Beatles and she had a few things in common in the 1960s, as they were both recording in the U.S. with Capitol Records and both performed at the Palladium in London and Carnegie Hall in New York, I can't definitively say that Garland was performing at some point in Vegas although that was probably likely and the Beatles concert tour reached Vegas right after the "A Hard Day's Night" movie was in the theaters.
I feel the same way and I agree with you too.
The longer it goes on, the more I appreciate and love this song. To me it is a classic
I thought the video was trash from first viewing, very surprising since it was directed by Peter Jackson. It never got in the way of my enjoyment of the song though. I never thought of Free As A Bird or Real Love as official Beatles songs but I think all three are consistent with the Threatles’ solo careers at the time. Other people’s enthusiasm for the track have fueled my own appreciation. I’ve heard a few different cover bands take it on and it is always an emotional highlight.
You would make a great Dorothy for wizard of oz
As a massive Judy Garland fan, you have no idea just how huge a compliment you paid me, thank you! :D
@BeatleBabe fantastic
Me too love ❤️ judy
Garland
My excitement for Now & Then wasn’t as heightened as it perhaps was for other fans last year as I’d been listening to an unofficial “fan version” that the Paul Is Dead conspiracy theorist iamaphoney was behind a good decade or more beforehand. And to be honest I still think that version is better! I recommend you having a listen, especially in comparison to the proper canonical Beatles version.
And don’t get me started on the N&T video! 😂 I still cringe-laugh at that scene of modern Paul and Ringo jamming in the studio with John and George! It’s a good song, I’m glad it came out, but if Id only had the iamaphoney version for the rest of my life, I’d have been happy enough.
Now, when are we going to get the TRUE “new” Beatles song, All For Love…? 🤔 Great video Jen 👍🏼
I know exactly which version of the song you mean, and thank you for reminding me who it was that did it! (I was trying to find it again like crazy when the song was released last year so I could explain to people why I was disappointed, since THAT was the version I had been listening to for ages up til then, and had gotten me so excited for what could possibly exist if we ever got the song, so imagine my surprise when we get the official version, and it just....isn't even that different from the demo, really.) Agreed 100% too about the video being so cringe in spots that it's hilarious -- I'm open minded, I could overlook the fact that Paul and Ringo are as they are now playing with young George and John, but I think it's the different in video quality of how crisp they look, then you see George and John next to them and and it just feels *weird*. I'm sure tons of work went into the making of the video, and I'm not knocking whoever created it, BUT what I am saying is that it falls into the whole uncanny valley thing and I think it's why it just feels so *off*. For how many people were posting that it had them crying when it came out, I was over here like wow, really....? And yes, I know that obviously the sentimentality is going to be different for a first generation fan than it is for someone who wasn't even born til the 80s, but there've been PLENTY of Beatles things that had be crying buckets over nostalgia and sentimentality and this just didn't do it for me, then or now. And yet....the version Paul uses behind him playing it live? That one elicited more of an emotional response from me, so go figure. I felt like I was being gaslit super hard last year for being in the minority of people who wasn't all over this thing, and almost felt guilty that I wasn't having more of a response to it than I did, but at this point, I think I was valid in being pretty meh about this one.
(Still wish we'd get an updated Anthology, though. And *that* is where I feel this project belongs, not on the red/blue albums.)
Now, what is this All For Love you speak of....? This is new to me!
@ I agree with you, N&T would have felt much more at home on an updated Anthology rather than the Red & Blue reissue.
As for All For Love, it was a track that Paul, George and Ringo began work on in March 1995 (there was no John demo involved, it was a totally new Threetles composition) but they weren’t satisfied with the progress (at least that’s the excuse they gave!) and abandoned the sessions.
On the safe assumption that Paul and Ringo would have to work on it some more to get it up to release-quality, I don’t think I’ll ever hear All For Love in my lifetime 😥 It would have been interesting to say the least to hear a completely new Beatles song, though with there being no Lennon involvement whatsoever, I can imagine there’d be a good deal of detractors and complainers! So in that respect, I can understand why the Threetles didn’t persevere, at least not if they didn’t think the track was all that strong in the first place
Yes, if John were still alive it definitely would’ve been on his next solo album.
I think it’s worse now! Paul vanity project.. it’s a stain on their legacy!
Ps I love the other two songs before anyone says I’m hating..
Also where’s mayos fake crying into a phone video?
DELETED! Says it all!😂
Hi jen wow I can't believe it's been a year i don't know i still love this song there's something about it that gets to me i think because it reminds me of my late friend although i do agree it is not a great song maybe not even a good one there's just something about it i like but maybe im too emotionally invested in it i do like the video too although the one paul has been showing is fantastic i also think Paul has been doing well singing it
Richard you love now and then but don’t like a day in the life.. your opinion can’t be taken seriously.
As you learn more about The Beatles, you will realize that most of their vast catalogue of songs were John songs, or Paul songs, or George songs. The more you listen, the more you'll understand.
I love Now and Then. I think you have to remove the context and just appreciate the song. The bridge (the "I don't want to lose you, abuse you" lyrics) has been cut from the original, which makes it a very different song to John's original intention. I also don't think from what he said in interviews in the early 70's that he would approve of his demos being used in this way. I think Paul McCartney's slide guitar sounds pretty good, but it also feels like it's supposed to be a tribute to George rather than his own style. I think the intention of the video is to get first generation fans misty eyed with nostalgia, and it probably works. I find it hard to separate Free as a Bird, Real Love and Now and Then from John's passing. Had he died of natural causes instead of some lunatic shooting him on the streets I think the context of the songs would feel different again.
Anyway, in short, I just put the single on the turntable (what on earth is it doing on 1967-1970?) and listen to it just as a song and forget the context and I think it's a great song.
I don't see it as a Beatles track either. It is a John song and a not very good one at that. I also don't look at Free as a Bird or Real Love as Beatles tracks but both are much better than Now and Then. I can't believe it's a full year since it was released. Time is flying by...
Hi Jen ! I can't imagine playing this song & would probably change the channel if it came on the radio. It just doesn't resonate with me
I'm glad that it's not just me that just really isn't sold on it. I'm not sure I'd actively go out of my way to turn it off if it came on shuffle at this point, but I also wouldn't go out of my way to put it on on purpose lol
Dejected bronze Jimmy Nicol, finding it hard to believe its been a year already.
Imo, it's better without the video, videos, generally speaking, are usually distracting to the Music anyway, upstaging the flowing ethereal melody, Loved it then, Love it now