“Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song” Removed From Disney+
Last November, The Beatles released a brand new track called “Now And Then”, which is the last Beatles song – written and sung by John Lennon, developed and worked on by Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and now finally finished by Paul and Ringo over four decades later.
Disney has worked with Paul McCartney and Ringo on a number of projects, including “The Beatles: Get Back” and “If These Walls Could Sing” . And to go along with the release of the last ever song, there was a short documentary film also released alongside it.
Both the music video and the documentary were added to Disney+ around the world, in addition to also being available on other streaming services including Max.
The eventful journey of “Now And Then” took place over five decades and is the product of conversations and collaborations between the four Beatles that go on to this day. The long mythologized John Lennon demo was first worked on in February 1995 by Paul, George and Ringo as part of The Beatles Anthology project, but it remained unfinished, partly because of the impossible technological challenges involved in working with the vocal John had recorded on tape in the 1970s.
For years it looked like the song could never be completed. But in 2022, there was a stroke of serendipity. A software system developed by Peter Jackson and his team, used throughout the production of the documentary Disney+ series “The Beatles: Get Back,” finally opened the way for the uncoupling of John’s vocals from his piano part. As a result, the original recording could be brought to life and worked on anew with contributions from all four Beatles.
This remarkable story of musical archaeology reflects The Beatles’ endless creative curiosity and shared fascination with technology. It marks the completion of the last recording that John, Paul, George and Ringo will get to make together and celebrates the legacy of the foremost and most influential band in popular music history.
Unfortunately, as with many musical specials, Disney only acquired a short-term license to make it available on Disney+, and thus, today, three months later, both the “Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song” film and music video have been removed from Disney+ around the world.
It’s unlikely that these videos will return to Disney+, though you can still enjoy them for free on YouTube. Unlike other streaming services, Disney+ doesn’t inform subscribers in advance when a title is going to be removed.
What do you think of Disney removing “Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song”? Let us know on social media!
