The Beatles' track “Now and Then” has sparked a wave of reactions after it was nominated for Record of the Year at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. The song, hailed as "the last Beatles song," was released in 2023 and pieced together from a demo recorded by John Lennon in 1977, with additional guitar overdubs by George Harrison from 1995. Despite the song's historical significance, both Lennon and Harrison have been excluded from the official Grammy nomination due to eligibility rules, which require artists to have contributed newly recorded elements to the track.
While the song's nomination sets a remarkable record for the longest span between nominations for any artist in history, the omission of Lennon and Harrison has sparked a debate among fans and critics. The issue centers on the use of artificial intelligence to isolate Lennon's vocals from the original demo recording, which some argue undermines the artistic merit of the track.
On social media, Sean Ono Lennon, John’s son, celebrated the nomination, sharing his excitement on X/Twitter. However, fans have raised concerns about the use of AI in the song's production, with some expressing dissatisfaction over the apparent "forced" nature of the nomination. Others, however, defended the process, stating that the Beatles used AI purely to separate Lennon’s voice from the demo and recorded new elements in a traditional manner.
Despite the controversy, the Grammy nomination represents an incredible milestone for The Beatles, who remain one of the most influential bands in history. The full list of winners will be revealed during the 68th Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Beyoncé has cemented her place in Grammy history with a record-breaking 11 nominations, bringing her career total to an astounding 99. The Queen Bey will face off against some of the biggest names in music, including Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift for Record of the Year.
