“Now And Then” New Beatles Song Cover
You know us. We had to do it …
How could we resist covering a new (?!) Beatles track!
It was almost impossible to miss the news but just in case you haven’t heard yet – there is a “new” Beatles song out. Yes, new Beatles music in 2023! Paul and Ringo took an old demo recording by John Lennon and turned it into a full song, including some guitar parts by George that were recorded in ’95.
Technically, that makes it a new Beatles song … so we just had to give it a go! 😉
“The Duo Sessions II” album is out now!
An enormous thank you goes out to everyone who has already ordered our new album The Duo Sessions II and/or merch that came out last week!
We are so pleased to have our 12th record out, and to get such great feedback from so many of you is the cherry on top!
The album is now available on all streaming platforms and of course in the MLT Club, so have a listen if you haven’t already. A lot of the songs are also up on our YouTube channel! And if you enjoy it, why not get a CD for the car, the downloads for your digital music library or some merchandise to help us create more music in the future?
Thank you for all your support ♥
Stay groovy,
Mona & Lisa
Lisa, I think that you like the Harp, so Naomi SV from Montreal plays Harp and on her site, she has made three videos of Now And Then, Here comes the sun and Across the universe, she is very good at the harp, I think you will like to watch her videos, I think you will like how she plays. It is beautiful. Merci.
Since we’re thinking about the Beatles so much, here’s a video everyone should watch if you haven’t seen it yet. This is from the Concert for George Harrison in 2002. Billy Preston sings the lead vocal beautifully, with accompaniment by Paul, Ringo, Dhani Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty & many other prominent musicians. I hope you enjoy this tribute to George! — Bud J.
Billy Preston – My Sweet Lord (Live) – YouTube
Looking back in time to 1969, Billy Preston, a friend of the Beatles since 1962, recorded 8 songs with them on their album “Let It Be.” Here’s a quick peek at that time in the studio. I love this clip because they’re obviously having so much fun together!
Watch The Beatles rehearsing “Don’t Let Me Down” in “The Beatles: Get Back” – YouTube
Congratulations ladies! 100,000 views in a week!! I’m pretty new to YouTube….. but that sounds like something I would be proud of! You two made a great song into a beautiful song! 🎶🤙🤓
Thanks Tim! Absolutely! We’re glad it’s doing so well 🙂 ♥
Picture yourself with over 100k YouTube views for your interpretation (it is so much more than a cover) of the final Beatles song.
The girls viewed though kaleidoscope eyes are about to pass this milestone 😁
Well done Mona and Lisa 😊
You are in the sky with diamonds 💎 ♦️
Hi Richard,
It might not be the “final” Beatles song?
You never know when some previously unrecorded material may turn up. Haha.
Take care,
Bobby S. 🎵
Yes, but what are the odds that there are some more recordings that both John and George have contributed to?
We look forward to the 2024 version of My Bonnie :), the first time they appeared on a single back in 1962/3, released in Germany I believe 🙂
I used to have ‘Komm, gib mir deine Hand‘ on record. No need to be fluent in German to translate.:)
Hi David,
I have a ’45 rpm record of My Bonnie by Tony Sheridan and the Beatles.
I bought it back in the 60’s for about a buck, or less, in the discount rack of a department store in Manhattan. Off hand, I can’t remember what the flip side song was.
Take care,
Bobby S.
Hi David,
Maybe I’m just an optimist, but I think that the odds are really great.
Hey, you never know?
Bobby S.
For some reason, I can’t seem to leave a comment on the updated post! I just wanted to say that I think that the timing of this cover was perfect, given its reverential, loving tone. It felt like a hymn of praise or a love letter from Mona and Lisa to the Beatles. I think that it expresses the love every Beatles fan feels for the memories and the wonderful gift of music the Beatles contributed to our lives. I am so pleased to see how well MLT’s cover is doing on YouTube and I’m proud to support musicians who can keep the Beatles’ music vibrantly alive while giving us their own beautiful original music.
Thank you so much Jeannette! We loved how spontaneous the whole thing was and how it made us work very efficiently 😉 We never thought that we’d get to experience the release of new Beatles music!
Do you mean that you tried to comment on the post we left in the activity stream? We just gave that a try and it seems to work fine. Have you clicked on the comment symbol first (see screenshot)? We just want to make sure there isn’t a bug we’re not aware of. Thaaaanks! ♥
Thanks, Lisa. Yes, I tried that and was able to start typing but, at about 6 words into my comment, it would all disappear and I would be back on the main page! I tried a few times and the same thing happened every time. I’ve never had that happen before!
I’ve been having a similar issue for the last few days. Whether I’m typing a comment or watching a video, after a minute or two it just reverts to wherever I was when I last clicked on something.
I’m glad to hear that I’m not alone! It is funny that it works on this page but not the other one.
Ah, thank you!! That is something we didn’t try. We’ll do some more testing to see what’s going on. Hopefully there’s an easy fix. Sorry for that!
Aaaand it’s fixed! Whenever you update things to make them “better”, things seem to break 🙁 But we played around with the settings and found the culprit. Please let us know if you notice anything else ♥
Thanks so much! I’m grateful that someone understands technology better than I do.
I love the MLT version of this song. There must be a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to make such a perfect arrangement.
I thought that people might be interested to hear about something I learned about the Beatles’ recording of the song yesterday.
I was reading the obituary columns of the (London) Times (14/11/23) and came across the death of a lady I hadn’t heard about before. She was Caroline Buckman, who had died of cancer on March 5th 2023, aged 48 and Caroline had played viola on the new Beatles single but did not live long enough to see it top the charts.
The viola that is so prominent in the song’s introduction and is heard in the string arrangement throughout the track was played by Caroline but because there was such secrecy surrounding the recording, she never knew that she had played on what Sir Paul McCartney has called “the last ever Beatles song.”
She was one of 14 string players called by an agent in April 2022 to turn up at Capitol Studios in LA to work on a song with McCartney but the song had been given the decoy title Give and Take in case news of the recording leaked.
“It was all a bit hush-hush, we couldn’t tell them they were playing on a Beatles record and we had to pretend it was for one of my things,” McCartney said later.
Had she known that she had played on the last ever song to be released by the Fab Four, “she would have been delirious with joy,” said her mother Erika Buckman, who like the rest of the world only learned of her daughter’s claim to a place in Beatles history on November 3rd, the day after the record was released.
So, John Lennon and George Harrison weren’t the only posthumous musicians to be heard playing on the record. Caroline did too.
Michael,
That’s a very interesting fact, & sad too. She must have been a Sweet Caroline! I don’t mean that at all in a derogatory way. I’ll bet she was a very nice lady, & a fine musician to be asked to play for Sir Paul!
How sad that Caroline didn’t know what she was part of, but what a beautiful thing for her family to cherish as they grieve!
What a heartwarming story. The Beatles touch people in so many unexpected ways. Caroline’s mother will have something to cherish in this song in memory of her daughter forever.
The more I watch your video, the more I love your “da da da da” and also the slide guitar by Lisa, beautiful. Merci pour tout.
Merci beaucoup! ♥
From Delaware, USA. Nicely done as are all your covers. When I first watched Now and Then doc last week I was in tears, and I’m 68. Such a beautiful haunting melody and wonderful work from the boys and Giles.
Peace
I’ve listened to this several times already. It is a haunting and heartfelt tribute to John. Knowing how greatly Mona and Lisa love the Beatles and have been influenced by them, the feeling with which they sang, “it’s all because of you” had special meaning. I loved the video – it was dazzling! The kaleidoscopic view, as though through John’s glasses made perfect sense given the kaleidoscopic images of past and present featured in the original video. I was truly touched by the nostalgia of the original video, but when I listened to the music only, the MLT cover was by far superior – in my opinion!
Very nicely said Jeannette!
I also felt it had a haunting quality, and Mona’s low harmony seems to add to that – such special voices they have. The song itself, as everything John Lennon did, is of course special in itself, and the Twins should be proud to have performed it so well.
Awesome job on Now and Then.
I have mixed feelings about all this. I appreciate the Beatles song and its place in their legacy, but I don’t think it is a great song. It comes off sort of dreary to me, although the video is great to watch.
But the MLT version is so much better for me and not sad or anything. I love the vocal arrangement and consider it a marked improvement over the original. Not the first time you were better than an original, but you really elevated this song from my perspective.
My thoughts exactly, Tim. The Frankenbeatles’ version made such a small impression on me that I thought MLT had just released an original song of their own until I read the description after listening to it.
Here’s Lucas Haneman’s version …. ( visually impaired guitarist from my area, I’ve seen him live once … and boy could he perform, you forget that he’s visually impaired ) , thought you’d enjoy this …
https://youtu.be/21buwDoa6s4?si=FiU6DxloVWKZUo_U
Wow Jacki!
Thanks for sharing that! Lucas is a very talented guitarist, & sure is not handicapped at all from playing. That was very nice! I can’t help feeling that the beginning of a lot of those phrases has the same rhythm as “Here Comes the Sun!”
— Bud
Thankyou, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
What a beautiful instrumental version from a very talented musician! Thanks for sharing it.
Thankyou and You’re Welcome 😊
That’s a really nice instrumental version. Thanks for sharing it Jackie.
Thankyou, Happy to share it 😎
50,000 YouTube views the first day is a good start for this song. Views are gold.
I’ve just discovered something that is both interesting and curious. Paul and Ringo have left out a middle section from John’s original demo. I’ve heard it, the ‘I don’t want to lose you’ section, and I really like it. John’s singing on this part of the demo isn’t very good, but Paul could have sung it. Curious. 🤨
Here it is, recorded 12 years ago –
https://youtu.be/d9kMgTf-jt8?si=1DA-oZsUXG_URHSZ
I forgot to thank Paul and Ringo to have finished “Now And Then” for all the Beatles Fans in the world, it is astonishing that we have a new Beatles song in 2023. I love the song and Paul and Ringo have done a great job. Also thank to John, he was a genius, not to forget George, he is also there in the song. Merci encore et encore. Beatles for ever.
I agree Claude, John created the beginnings of a masterpiece on a demo cassette, and in essence brought the Beatles back together for Paul and Ringo to complete the masterpiece some 50 years later, with contributions from all 4 of them with Georges guitar work from 1994. What an amazing legacy, and something only the Beatles could have pulled off. It is such a hauntingly beautiful piece with the use of minor key chord changes based around a simple melody, John’s genius of evoking such moving emotions effectively shines here. It hit #1 in the UK charts right off that bat and #7 in the USA charts. As much as the Beatles version captures the beauty, Mona and Lisa elevates it even higher with their amazing heartstring pulling vocals and their own genius arrangement. Those beautiful emotions are enriched even more. I really hope Paul and Ringo hear MLTs version. MLTs version deserve to hit #1 in the charts in both continents.
to Jung Roe, I agree to everything you say and like you I hope MLT version will be No 1 in Canada, UK, USA, Japan, I mean everywhere, if there is justice in this world, Mona and Lisa are to me fantastic in everything they done. Thank you.
After listening to your “Now and Then” continuously for a couple days, I wanted to add some more thoughts. The part where another vocal line happens with “Ta da da da da da dahhhh” effect send chills, and your harmonies really pronounce the dissonance affect of John’s minor key chord changes raising goose bumps. Lisa’s guitar piece is stirring adding to this symphony of beauty. The acapella layering of vocals and harmonies, arrangement, guitar work, video effects, are genius. It’s all mesmerizing. You’ve taken this music history making moment with the release of yet another new Beatles song, and elevated the bar higher than the original with your killer version. Absolutely love it.
WOW, what a beautiful cover, it is amazing, and the video is incredible, Papa Rudi has done a great job again, many thanks to him, I hope your cover will be on your next Duo Sessions in 2024, Mona and Lisa you are marvellous. I am so happy that you have done it and all your Fans are too. Merci encote.
You’ve done it again! I like the Beatles’ version, of course, but your interpretation and your harmonies never fail to excel! Bravo, Mona and Lisa! XO
Absolutely superb! You’ve found the absolute core of the song.
65,000 views on YouTube in 48 hours – looks like this one is going to do well.
There are many other Now and Then covers, but the twins appear to be the first with a proper video.
I’m monitoring the views of the others, many of which have been there for over a weeks. I’ve seen one over 100k, but MLT are catching up fast 😊
Wonderful rendition and arrangement! Also very reverential. Possibly better than theirs’… Keep on keepin’ on, ladies!
I was blown away when I heard this version,gave me goosebumps,like when I heard the Beatles version.Love the video!! You are both just absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
Loving my Duo Sessions II cd’s(one for the car,one for the house).As always.I’m looking forward to whats up next from my faviorite duo.
Love & Hugs💛💓
Tom
Wowie – what a gorgeous version!!
I have to say it, I thought your version was far better than the “original” I felt it was a poor choice for Paul and Ringo to make, I am sure there are a lot better previously unreleased Beatles songs sitting around waiting to be heard
I’ve told lots of people over the years about how important the arrangement and production are to the final song. I know everyone here knows that, it’s the Papa Rudi effect.
This is Exhibit A for that. The difference between John’s demo and this version is night and day.
Papa Rudi is what we call him, but I always feel like I should be addressing him as Maestro Herr Wagner. He is a music genius.
i had listen to the new Beatles “Now and Then” track, was good, then i listened to your cover, and to be honest, i totally enjoyed your version much better! just the way you two humanize i guess lol or
i love this song the more i hear it, great cover girls, it is unmistakeably a Beatles song
Hi ladies, thanks for doing this cover and as usual you have not let us down, it was beautiful..x
Good Morning Ladies, your harmonizing just keeps getting better and better!!!! Put on your head phones and close your eyes. It was very beautiful!!!! A great rendition!!! I have been busy for quite a while now and I haven’t been keeping up with what’s going on to much in the club and then this song, wow, thank you!!! Stay Groovy!!!!
Hello Ladies, it is a wonderful cover! For my opinion it tops the original in case of your beautiful voices! Congratiolations!
Again better than the original – you’ve done it again – thank you🤩🤩
Oh girls, you’ve outBeatled the Beatles. Never been sure about the song. So yesterday when you put the song up on FB I thought ‘ oh it’s that song again and didn’t listen. Today at breakfast I decided to listen and watch. I can’t believe that a song could be interpreted so much better. It’s fabulous. The video is cleaner, it’s clearer and so much better. We’ll done and thank you. Oh by the way Mona, your hair looks fantastic.
What a beautiful song! Absolutely gorgeous. The uncluttered arrangement really shows off the gorgeous harmonies and lets the meaning of the lyrics shine through. You’ve taken a simple pop song and made it poetry. I absolutely love it, first note to last and every note in between.
Man soll ja eigentlich nicht an einem “Heiligtum” rütteln, aber selbst ein alter Beatles-Fan wie ich muss bestätigen, dass Eure Version mindestens genau so gut, wenn nicht sogar besser ist als das Orginal. Sorry, Paul. Sorry, Ringo
Stunning!!! Astonishingly better than the version released by Paul, which I feel was over produced and “Phil Spectorized”. This is clean and simple, the way I’d envision John would have wanted it done back when the demo was recorded.
This is more than a cover – it is a reinterpretation. The layered harmonies, alternative percussion, and female voices give it a very different sound to Paul’s arrangement. Soft and gentle – it makes me feel I am floating on a cloud of feathers 😊
The facial kaleidoscope effects on the video highlight how beautiful the twins are. The point at which Mona takes off the double glasses is a real wow moment 😊
Too many young people these days pout with faces augmented with fillers and injections. Natural smiles reflecting pleasant personalities are so much more attractive.
I’m not at all surprised that you were all over this new Beatles song from the get-go. You couldn’t have been more excited and you couldn’t have done a more phenomenal job of capturing the pure essence of a moving and mystical song. Bravo!
Absolutely Brilliant! Your attention to detail really makes this another cover that is clearly better than the original. Simply superb!
As always, “Thanks for the Memories!”
I love the mesmerizing chord changes of this song — and the beautiful way you recreate them with pretty much just your vocals and harmonies and that spare guitar part. Just lovely!
That was fab!
I apologize but as much as I loved the new Beatles video I just didn’t enjoy the song. Apparently neither did George. But then I heard the otherworldly voices and harmonies of Mona and Lisa sing it, and I find it spiritual and emotive. Plus I could see those amazingly beautiful ladies in kaleidoscope fades for hours. World class guitar as usual by Lisa – thanks ladies for your talent and magic…
For all the cussing and discussing of this song, why can’t it simply be embraced for the simple value of being a simple, but straightforward song? Paul and John often finished each other songs, contributed lyrics, and influenced production. I have a vision of a long-gone Lennon texting in his apartment to his absent partner, “Hey mate. I found this in a box and never quite found the hook. See what you can do with it.#
Thank you for a thoughtful and poignant cover, as usual.
I was totally surprised to find this video last night on YouTube and of course had to listen to it; then listen to it again; and again. It immediately struck me that you had put out a great cover in an amazingly short time.
I checked on the YouTube view count and it looks like the weeklong push was worth it – the video is doing well. 45,000 views in 23 hours!
The harmony is wonderful. Mona’s low harmony voice comes through so clearly, contrasting beautifully with Lisa’s, separate but so together. The guitars are blended it nicely. Tip of the hat to Papa Rudi on a great mix, and I really like the video. You guys are an amazing team.
And … I love those John Lennon glasses.
I hope Paul and Ringo see this most wonderful version of this song.
Yeah, they look fabulous in those colorful Lennon glasses!
Jung,
Agreed! And since Mona & Lisa have already met Mike McGear & Sean Lennon, I always hope they’ll get to meet Paul & Ringo! Then there’s Julian Lennon too, Dhani Harrison, James McCartney or ANY of the Beatle children!
(But how do you meet someone like that, unless you’re just lucky?
We can only hope!) — Bud
Dennis,
Thanks for the info on their YouTube views! I hope this continues to bring the MLT Family much more success! They deserve it! — Bud
I think Paul and Ringo did Now and Then as an homage to John and George. Their mates that they shared so much with. That they miss so much.
I really enjoy what Mona and Lisa have done with this song. I think it fits what they do, and it shows off their talents, and Rudi’s talents. It respects what John and George did, it respects what Paul and Ringo did, and it reminds me yet again how amazing The MonaLisa Twins are.
Right on Chris!
I feel the same way! It might be that the more we judge other people, then we are open to more judgement ourselves! I already know what my strengths & weaknesses are, so I just try to accept that, but still try to do my best. That’s all we can do!
Cheers! — Bud
I’m a HUGE Beatle fan, but I actually enjoy this more than the new tune. Gorgeous, Ladies!!!
Brilliant, fab! Absolutely gorgeous! Love it.
Omg. In floods of tears watching the Beatles vid then recover to watch this and I’m gone again!
Wow you girls never cease to impress me. Brilliant. Peace and love.
Thank you so much for this beautiful cover and video of Now and Then, you should record this for a future album release. I thoroughly enjoyed this, so again thank you..
OK, I’ll join in with my feelings on all of this. I couldn’t get YouTube for several days, so I only saw the original Lennon recording of this song with a picture of a cassette tape going round & round. Nice song, but very boring video. The song however brought back memories of John’s “Grow Old with Me.” That song really got me, thinking of “what could have been” with John’s Life & Music had he lived longer. Such a senseless tragedy, as are all pointless deaths from guns in the US!
Now I have something to say, & I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, or get your knickers in a twist, but I’M RIGHT and YOU’RE ALL WRONG! (Ha — Ha — Ha, take THAT! …….. ONLY KIDDING!!! — Hee hee hee!) The following is just my imperfect way of communicating with words, however muddled they may be.
I just saw the new Beatles video today of “Now & Then,” & I think the Beatles all did a fantastic job on this whole venture! John, writing the song in the ’70’s, Paul, George & Ringo’s efforts in 1995, & Paul, Ringo & Peter Jackson’s efforts recently!
I’m sitting here with my matcha latte with hemp milk. Go ahead & judge me if you want –HA! (Again, I’m being weird here…)
I love how Paul & Ringo put everything together from the past, present, & then mixed it all up!
And then all of John’s typically goofy dancing, pointing, smiling, waving his hands; it was as if Lennon’s spirit was unseen in the studio reacting to the whole spectacle! I DID cry, especially the 2nd time watching it. But it was wonderful, the idea of bringing the Beatles together creatively, NOT just to be paid a billion $ for one more concert, as they COULD HAVE done back in the ’70’s but refused to do! They didn’t care about the money! And I’m so glad we all have Paul & Ringo still with us, “After All These Years,” still creating Music and performing! What a gas!
This song to me was comparable to a sad composition by Beethoven, where the listener’s feelings change from second to second. First sadness, then a glimmer of hope, changed to despair, the loss of love, the pointless of everything, but then maybe a taste of something better to come. Why should this song sound like “She Loves You,” or any other up-tempo hit song by the Fab Four? Why compare it to something else they’ve done, or make it a carbon copy of “A Hard Day’s Night?”
This song & video are an honest, yet moving display of the individual Beatle’s love for each other, and a statement that life moves on, but they have just crossed boundaries in time to create this piece of Art for you…all people everywhere! We HAVE to have hope in this World, appreciation for each other & a laugh or two, like John & George would have about this project, if their souls are still out there somewhere!
I don’t CARE if Paul, Ringo, or for that manner the MLT’s make money from this. I hope they ALL do! All of us are only here on Earth for a short time anyway! We all have our separate lives, & do our own things, but we “Come Together” in moments like this to share something in common, have a smile, a tear, a moment of happiness, of togetherness, then we’re off again to the next thing, never knowing when this whole illusion may end!
I also love the MLT’s version of this song! I don’t find their video boring. On the contrary, it’s always changing, & you don’t know what to expect next. Their singing, & the whole arrangement is very nice & charming, still respectful as a tribute to the Beatles, but done in their own style, as always. Why should I feel a need to compare their version to the Beatle’s version? I choose to enjoy both as separate things, both good “In Their Own Write.” (That would be a pun on Lennon’s book from the ’60’s!)
And if this isn’t a good time for the MLT’s to release this song, then WHEN IS? Next week? Next Month? Or a Year from now? I think they probably did it now because of their obvious love for Music & the Beatles! THEY made that choice, & I believe it was a GOOD choice! I’m not trying to be a “Yes Man” for the MLT’s, those are just my honest feelings coming out here.
Anyone can take my opinion or leave it, no disrespect to you! We’re all entitled to our own honest opinions, right? I don’t HAVE to think like everyone else. I reserve the right to love the Beatles, AND the MLT’s, AND Jazz, AND Rock, AND Classical Music or whatever suits me at whatever particular moment. I just enjoy all of it!
THERE, I’ve said it! Sorry for the messy length of this book here. Now Folks, everyone have a Nice Day, you’re all Special People here, and I MEAN that!
Thanks for another wonderful song video, Mona & Lisa! I love the variety in all your efforts! Don’t change, “I Love You Just the Way You Are!”
Ciao! — Bud
Hey Bud that was some novella lol. And I thought that I sometimes leave comments that are quite long haha.
“Just the Way You Are” – hey that’s my friend Billy Joel.
We are just “Keeping the Faith”.
Take care,
Bobby S.
Thanks Bobby!
Yeah, I do tend to write a lot, my bad! But I felt strongly enough to speak my mind, so I hope that people understand that! I’ve sung some Billy Joel songs on stage, & I did meet him once, around 1979. He was very nice, & we had a good talk! I like the Shea Stadium concert he did with Paul. That was very cool!
I just hope that Mona & Lisa will get a chance to meet Paul & Ringo, or even appear with one of them (at least) on stage someday! — Bud
Hi Bud. Yeah the Beatles did a fantastic job on this indeed collectively. When I first heard Now and Then a week ago (Beatles version) I was moved by John’s vocals and simple yet beautiful melody, and what a beautiful thing Paul and Ringo did to finish John’s song in his honour. Now after listening to MLTs version, I see what an incredible song John started, they let all the stops out and opened up the full potential of the song like fireworks. Because of MLTs version, I kept hearing the melody all day in my head.
The Beatles are amazing, maybe even super human. Even the way the story of this song unfolded from a cassette to George Harrison playing on it in 1994, to Paul and Ringo finishing it, and the across the universe and time way they collaborated on it. Even John and Georges death did not stop them from doing one more song together, an actual Beatles song half a century after they broke up. If that isn’t amazing and magical , I don’t know what is. Well actually MLTs superlative interpretation of John’s cassette is just as magical!
Thanks Jung!
Yes, you’re right on all counts! When you hear John’s vocal on this haunting tune, or on ANYTHING, we realize what a unique & touching voice that he had. It’s impossible to copy that exact vocal quality! John was a very complicated individual, and had his share of demons, but what a gift he gave to the World! I feel the same about Paul, George & many other musicians and singers.
The World is a much better place with Music! Even for amateurs, listening to, & especially playing Music is very healing. You can’t be killing or hurting somebody when you’re so involved with playing and listening! And animals are very healing too! I wish we could uplift all the emotionally sick people who commit crimes & start wars. There’s no point! Only a peaceful World is worth living in. (Now I’m getting on my band wagon again!
Have a nice weekend! Peace Bro!’– Bud
What a wonderful surprise. This song really touched me when I first heard it, but your version takes it to another beautiful level, wow! Your harmonies and arrangement are heavenly. Absolutely love it. 👍🎶💕😊
It stuck me that everything the Twins have done the last year or so has been wonderful. It has been great watching their talent grow from early on until now. Two of music’s most talented gems have blossemed.
Indeed Dennis, MLTs work, their originals and covers, are reaching new heights with every release. They are the brightest light these days in the musical firmament, creating the finest music bar none.
First of all, I think the Twins know how much I love them and their music and I’ve supported them for the last two years since I discovered them. This is nothing against them whatsoever.
Lots of us get excited when new music is found from artists we admire. Music that we have never previously heard. However, when I heard this mundane song from the Beatles, the other day, I was very unimpressed.
BTW – I didn’t care for “Free As a Bird” either.
Now having said all that, Mona & Lisa’s cover is so much better than what I heard from the Beatles. The vocals are better. The music is better. And the video was very well done.
Good Job ladies.
A local Long Island radio station here has the Beatles’ video of the song on their website. I didn’t watch it yet, maybe later.
Take care,
Bobby S.
Beautiful rendition! Love the Beatles version as well, but you have put the MLT’s sound to it, beautiful!
Much better than theirs. It’s a shame because I like the Beatles, but theirs comes over as a dirge. I’m sure it’s great for Paul and Ringo to have John’s voice to play with again, but you two lift that song up to where it actually works. And of course your voices and musicality are brilliant as always.
Twins, you make such fantastic videos/covers ever! This is a fantastic cover of the ‘new’ Beatles song, made better! I’m an old Beatles fan, and I still enjoy the originals, but you bring a new sound to both old and new!
To me MLT’s cover of Now and then is great! They reread the song with their own style. Congrats!
This reading of the song makes clear to me that the title means “Once in a while,” not “In the present present time and in the past time.” as the Fab Fours’s reading suggests to me. Interesting.
A beautiful and understated performance, vocally and instrumentally, which brings out the true beauty of this latest Beatle song. I like your version better than Paul’s I have to say. I think Paul’s version is over-produced, like a Phil Spector version.
Over-produced, yes— to compensate that what was on the cassette was underwritten.
Wonderful performance and video. what a great idea to be the first to cover the new Beatles song now and then. You two are remarkable.
Beautiful job on the new Beatles song, Mona and Lisa. You sound great and look lovely.
Simply put…wow! Melodic and wonderful. Love Lisa’s performance using the slide on her Strat and her deft melodic touch on her Gretsch. As always, the harmonies are top notch.
Hopefully, sometime in the future, you can give “Sexy Sadie” a whirl. It would be great!
Great job girls, both on the song and the video. I enjoyed them both very much!
I love your vocal take on the song and the grooviness of the video! The video’s kaleidoscope effect is very fitting for the style of the song and the subtle silliness in places fits with the that of the Beatles in the Peter Jackson video. Nicely done!
Mona and Lisa – I guessed you were going to do this 😊 and I knew you would make a great job of it 😊 Your video is so inventive.
All of you are not just hugely talented, you are clever as well. Totally brilliant 😊
The twins have mentioned the Free As a Bird video in the past. It you watch, soon after the gateposts at Strawberry Fields are shown, there is an image of school children crossing a road. This is the junction of Penny Lane and Dovedale Road. In the same year the song Penny Lane was released I was a schoolboy who every day crossed the road at this very same spot. I thought everyone had a song written about their route home 😁
I have more stories, if Beatle buffs are interested …… for example, as a pupil of the same school and class as John Lennon, 17 year later, I know the origin of a line from I am the Walrus ……
Richard,
I figured that was an old picture of you as a young lad! Yes, I would like to hear some stories. I live near Seattle, but I’ve been to Liverpool 3 times, & to many other places in Europe. 54% of my ancestry is from the British Isles, & I love the history and castles over there.
I’ve been to the gates of Penny Lane, & many other Beatles sites. I lived in New York City during the time that John & Yoko lived there! I’m enjoying the MLT website a lot, but I’m abandoning my instrument practice too much & need to get back to that!
But if you have more stories, I’d love to hear them. Take care! — Bud
Bud, thanks for replying 😁
In Liverpool schools, as I am sure is the case in schools all around the World, children pass down schoolyard chants from generation to generation. These are rarely written down and so the words can change gradually as they are passed on.
17 years after John Lennon had been the same class as I was in (A1 – see the drawings on his album Walls and Bridges), there was a schoolyard chant that began “Yellow belly custard green snot pie, all mixed together in a dead dog’s eye ….. “. Now compare this to the words in I am the Walrus, “Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dogs eye ….”
Coincidence? I very much doubt it 🙂
PS the photo is me when I was the same age as the twins are now 😊
Richard,
Yes, I would probably lose my lunch after I heard that! It has to have come from “I Am the Walrus.” I said this in another post, but I sang that song in concert a bunch of times, which was a lot to fun! Right after John died, I transcribed “I Am the Walrus,” & “Strawberry Fields” for Big Band, as I was in 2 community college large Jazz Ensembles, & Jazz Combos.
We were doing all sorts of material. After about a month I had written out all the instrumental parts on the Beatles album for our trumpet, trombone & saxophone sections, plus the rhythm section. I sang the vocals instead of playing trumpet. I’m glad I did that, because I had been inspired when I went to the Seattle Center for John’s Memorial. There was a big crowd, and everyone sang Beatles songs with a few guitarists for accompaniment!
I can only imagine what the Memorials for John must have been like in Liverpool, New York & all around the World! I had just been to NYC in Sept/Oct of 1980, & of course I had walked past the Dakota. I regret not hanging out there a bit to catch John & Yoko going back & forth, but I didn’t want to “bother” them! Anyway, that’s my personal story!
I’d like to hear any other stories that you have Richard. THANK YOU!
— Bud Jackson
Bud, it sounds like you are quite a musician 🙂 I envy your talent. I’ve tried many times to learn an instrument but just don’t have it in me.
Ha ha, I think your timeline is back to front. The words in I am the Walrus come ‘from’ the schoolyard chant. Many think John’s word were drug induced. But he simply liked the nonsense poetry of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, and so wrote imaginative nonsense lyrics based on his early memories. The ‘Walrus’ is most probably from the ‘Walrus and the Carpenter’ by Lewis Carroll.
So saying, in ‘Glass Onion’ John sings “…..here’s another clue for you all, the Walrus is Paul ….” 😁
Richard,
I’m going to update your info on this. Somewhere in a Beatle book I read that Paul actually did not wear the Walrus mask, that Lennon was just playing around. John & Paul wanted to confuse Beatle fans by giving them unintelligible lyrics, knowing that fans would try to find out the meaning behind everything they wrote!
I just looked this up online, & it said that in the “Walrus video,” Paul was the Hippo, John was the Walrus, George was the Rabbit, & Ringo the Chicken!” I know, know! I thought that Paul was the Walrus for years TOO because of the Lennon lyric in “Glass Onion!”
According to the source, Paul had the last laugh by wearing a Walrus mask in George’s 1988 video “When We Was Fab!”
Thanks for all your input! — Bud
Richard,
I’ve read a bunch of books about the Beatles & John Lennon, so yes, he was influenced by Lewis Carroll & other writers. And Paul mentioned an English teacher he had, from whom he learned about “rhyming couplets!”
So you think that the school-yard chant pre-dated John’s lyrics? That’s very interesting! He was able to take in everything from his surroundings and write songs about those things. The “sitting on a cornflake” line came from a cereal commercial on TV, which I remember seeing.
As for my musical ability, I did start off with private trumpet lessons, which helped a lot! I learned music writing & transcribing from classes I took at the University of Washington for my degree. Such as Music Theory, Sight-Singing, Ear-Training, Jazz Arranging, Conducting, different Ensembles, plus many others. They’re just skills like anyone would have to learn for their particular profession. But thanks for the compliment!
Have you ever MET the Mona Lisa Twins? If so, what was that like? I’m sure they are super nice people!
THANKS AGAIN! — Bud
I have another story ….
On the same junction of Penny Lane and Dovedale Road (featured in the Free as a Bird video) is a public house called Dovedale Towers. In 1969, while I was still a schoolboy walking home along this route, a young man called Farrokh Bulsara, (who had been raised in Zanzibar), briefly resided here while singing for a Liverpool band called Ibex. By then he was known as Freddie, but would soon also change his surname when he joined up with two other musicians he met in Liverpool to form a band called Smile. When they found a suitable bass player the band changed its name to Queen, and the rest is history 🙂
Yes, Freddie Mercury lived on Penny Lane two years after the song was released 🙂
Richard,
That’s a surprising story about Freddie, (or Farrokh!) He must have been influenced by the Beatles, but his Music came out his own way. I really like Queen, & he had an amazing voice! Too bad the Beatles couldn’t have played at “Live Aid” along with Queen!
I’ve said this before, that I went to that cemetery where Paul & John met, & I saw Eleanor Rigby’s grave. My wife and I went into a Pub across the street from that on our “Beatle’s Tour.” We were told that Stu Sutcliff’s parents owned a house which became a Pub across the street from the cemetery. I tried looking it up but couldn’t find out if that was correct or not. I found Liverpool to be a nice friendly town, in my 3 visits there!
On a different note, I was playing in a traveling Band in 1986/87. In that first year we played in a little bar in Aberdeen, Washington. There was a Punk Band playing at a different bar, & I heard them from the outside, but didn’t go in. They were very loud, & I wondered later on if that Band might have been “Nirvana,” or one of the other early bands that Curt Cobain was a part of.
I looked online, & found that he was in Aberdeen, in 1986 & ’88. There’re two homemade videos from that era. Of course, he grew up there, but lived in Seattle at the end of his life. I never saw him live, but I’ve been by his Seattle house. There’s a Park next door with a bench that acts as a memorial to Curt, & people always place flowers, notes & little memorials there.
I like Nirvana, although I’m not a huge Punk fan. I just feel so bad about all the “27 Club” musicians who died so young. Lennon at least made it to 40, but still, what a waste of life! I’m so glad that Paul & Ringo are still with us, & touring! And the Stones too! I’m also a big Jazz fan & appreciate many different Music styles.
I’ve enjoyed your Beatle stories Richard, thanks for the low down!
And thanks for your comment, Jeanette!
— Bud
I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the groovy ladies yet. They are so charming and talented, and I’m sure they are as pleasant as they appear. I especially like their sense of humour. Liverpudlians are known for this and so I’m sure Mona and Lisa fit in well 😁
Although raised in the south of Liverpool I no longer live there. However, I do regularly visit my step-brother in Waterloo which is to the north of Liverpool. So one day perhaps I might meet the twins 😊
I hope that you have that good fortune. Meeting Mona and Lisa is a dream we all share, I suspect, although they are so generous with sharing themselves and their lives via this club that it feels as though we have met them.
What an interesting conversation between you and Bud! Thanks for sharing these insights!
The conversation continues. See above 😁
Amazing!!!! Did you encounter Freddie when you were a schoolboy? I had no idea that he spent time there.
🙂 No one knew who he was then 😁 I only heard of this later. It is now on his Wiki page.
We tend to forget that superstars had lives before their days of fame.
Have you heard the story of the name ‘Eleanor Rigby’?
Paul says the title was inspired by a shop in Bristol called Rigby and Evens, combined with the actress Eleanor Bron’s name. She was in the Help movie.
After hearing a rumour in the late 80s, I visited St Peter’s church in Woolton village, Liverpool. It didn’t take long to find the gravestone featuring the name Elinor Rigby. Apparently there is a gravestone nearby featuring the name Father McKenzie.
So what is significant about this graveyard? This is where John and Paul first met at a church fete, and where they used to sunbathe.
Perhaps these intriguing names sunk into their subconsciouses?
As always Mona and Lisa, your lovely blend of your voices is heaven to me. Such a great cover in a short period of time, wow you both are hard workers for sure. Love the production and beautiful images are stunning. My hats off to the great work on this video. Love the guitar slide work Lisa, I know people are going to roll their eyes when I say this but Ron Wood and Eric Clapton would love your guitar playing .Mona your harmony is brilliant, I try sometimes singing your part on songs and find it not that easy! But thank you both so much for this beautiful piece and comes in a difficult time in my life right now but I know I can ” count on me ” Mona and Lisa to help me stay grounded and appreciate all the life has to offer. God bless and can’t wait till next Friday.
Hugs and Love from Bill and Maddie Isenberg huge fans from Pittsburgh PA USA
Absolutely out of this world!!! You both sound amazing and have done this new Beatle song justice.
Entrancing… Fabulous! I’m so glad you put forth your talents to cover this little gem!
And I know this next opinion of mine is gonna get me in trouble… but at 64 years old…I have earned some old-fashioned opinions. I honestly believe if you open a dictionary and look for the definition of “feminine”. There should be a picture of Mona and Lisa. Beautiful ladies.
….. and the picture should also be hung in the Louvre, Paris ….. and it would outshine the original 🥰
Beautifully performed and produced as always! I see the wisdom in getting this cover out quickly without rushing it. Genius to get it seen while the most people are still excited about the original. I know that wasn’t foremost in your minds when you decided to do this, but I think(and hope) this will bring you fresh recognition for your artistry and talent! 💕 it!
It’s been about six hours now since I woke up to this rendition of the new Beatles song… I honestly didn’t know what to think. I have listen to the original Beatles recording almost a dozen times. But I don’t know if someone asked me to whistle or hum the tune, that I could have? After listening to Mona and Lisa’s version this morning twice I found myself humming the tune in the shower?!
Paul and Ringo had almost 40 years to make John’s short piece into a song. Mona and Lisa did theirs in around a week. The strings are replaced with their voices. The drums are replaced with finger snapping, and Lisa thumping on her “sternum”… this could’ve been a cappella! Other than a couple simple guitars. If I take the emotion out of the video from the original song, seeing John and George. And compare songs to songs….. well I’ll let you all decide on that one! I certainly have my opinion! Beautiful song well done!
Brilliant! How did you do this in such a short time?
Absolutely Brilliant Cover, Undertaken in such a short space of time from the original being released. Mona and Lisa you are so Talented. Thank You for sharing this wonderful cover of such a special song.
Superb cover, the spare arrangement allows the composition to shine.
Such an incredibly melancholy song. The Beatles saddest song. And all things considered, appropriately so.
Your voices are miraculous and angelic here ladies, as ever.
A beautiful vocal arrangement paired with pristine guitar work and a lot of heart. One could write that about virtually every MLT recording, but those qualities are so strong here that they demand to be pointed out. A greater joy to listen to than (dare I say it?) the Fabs’ original version.
Must have cost you girls a fortune in sun glasses. Shows how talented you are but it’s not the best Beatle song. See my comment to Steve Kirk.
I was pleasantly surprised to find Now and Then sung by MLT. I have avoided to listen to Pauls fake project with AI and other things to bring a “new” Beatles song. Now they are sinking too low to earn money – shame on them – IMHO. Your version is refreshing and your own and nice to the ears. Keep up your good work – you’ll always be my favorite twins.
Paul didn’t really do anything that he didn’t do on Anthology, except that he and Giles Martin used Peter Jackson’s MAL to separate John’s voice from the piano on his demo. That’s all.
I’m sorry to not follow the general consensus and don’t post negative comments normally. This is a bad choice at the present time. It’s too soon, and the original is still in peoples minds. Following on from last weeks Beatles masterwork this feels weak and pointless. The whole project feels rushed, to get in first and it’s not up to the usual standard. This is my opinion only. Many people seem to like this but to me this feels contrived. I’m sorry and apologise to anyone I’ve offended. Best wishes
I think the problem here Steve is that actually it’s not the best Beatle song ever and in fact is rather weak and shapeless. A.I. made this possible for George Martin’s son and really they should not have bothered.
I don’t totally disagree with you Steve. When it popped up on my YouTube page last night I was shocked and actually thought it was a scam of sorts. When I watched it I was amazed they actually did this so soon after the original came out, and directly to YouTube. I would have thought they would release it in the club first to get the feedback before putting it out to the public where there is bound to be some negative feedback. I agree with Roger too in that it is not the best Beatles song I’ve ever heard. That being said, I did enjoy the video and I like the girls version of the song. I may be biased but those voices really do improve not only this song but many of the covers they have done.
Anyways, I’m sure Mona and Lisa are curious to hear the feedback either way and I am curious to hear their thoughts.
Nice one Tim!
Relax Steve, Mona and Lisa did this as a tastefully performed tribute. In my humble opinion, I believe that Team MLT took this song to a higher level!
Too me, it was in good taste and a tribute to the Beatles.
I think this is a celebration of the Beatles, like MLTs participation in Beatle weeks, the new Beatles FAN movie and everything else they’ve done to revitalize the Beatles music today. Being one of the finest Beatles interpreters and being such a big part of the Beatles movement, I applaud Mona and Lisa for bringing forward such an amazing cover and honoring John’s work and elevating this special Beatles moment even more. It complements the Beatles release of “Now And Then” more than anything. There is nothing contrived or of bad taste here Steve.
Outstanding. I can “imagine” John smiling at you two now…..
The vocals as always are outstanding and really convey the message of the lyrics.
Dare I say your version is better? Too late, I already said it.
Thank you Mona & Lisa. I never thought you’d get out this new song so quickly. The new song is literally out of this World; your cover brings even more beauty and poignancy to it. Just Wow…X
Love everything you do
you are so talented
love the new video great to listen too.
Very beautiful. This song is really writing for women voices …
This version is stunning. The lyrics really come through and get to your heart. For me, more so than the original. Keep well ladies.
Very, very creative…. I’m not sure what to say….. I just wanted to be the first to respond! Great to wake up to this morning!
A Very good job of covering the song. I have a parrot and every time he hears you sing he chirps with you.
I’d like to hear monalisa from you ladies it’s one of my favourite songs