The song Now and Then, written by John Lennon in the late 1970s, reached number one on the UK’s most-played singles chart.
The ballad released on November 2 is now at the top of the famous English charts, beating Prada, Casso and Is It Over Now by Taylor Swift. The late British group’s feat comes 54 years after the Beatles’ last No. 1 hit, The Ballad of John and Yoko, released in 1969.
Billed as their “final piece,” Now and Then is a demo written by John Lennon in the late 1970s before being rearranged twice. The late George Harrison first added a guitar track in 1994; then, new segments were re-recorded, notably on piano, by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
The two surviving members of the group were obviously excited by this improbable return to the coveted charts. “It’s mind-blowing,” reacted Paul McCartney, in a comment relayed by The Guardian. It leaves me completely speechless, it’s also a very emotional moment, I love it! »
The single was streamed more than 5 million times, while physical sales of the album soared to 38,000 copies, including 19,400 vinyls.