Last fall, The Beatles released their new and “final” song, “Now and Then”–which began its life as a late ’70s John Lennon demo, was fleshed out with contributions from George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr in the ’90s, and finally finished with Paul, Ringo, and Get Back director Peter Jackson’s audio restoration in the 2020s–and last night (10/1), Paul McCartney gave the song its live debut. He played it at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, at the first date of the latest leg of Paul’s Got Back Tour, and Paul’s lead vocal performance did a lot of justice to the way John sang it almost 50 years ago. He projected old Beatles footage along with footage of the recent “Now and Then” recording sessions on the screen behind him, and the whole thing was as moving as the song itself. Watch a fan-shot video below.
In addition to “Now and Then,” Paul’s 37-song set included 21 other Beatles songs, including “I’ve Got A Feeling,” which Paul performed as a virtual duet with John, using audio and footage from The Beatles’ rooftop concert. Paul also dedicated “Here Today” to John and “Something” to George, and he played “In Spite of All the Danger” by pre-Beatles band The Quarrymen. Check out the full setlist below.
The Got Back Tour continues with more shows across South America, Mexico, Europe, and the UK through December. All dates and tickets here.
Paul McCartney @ Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay – 10/1/24 Setlist (via)
A Hard Day’s Night (The Beatles song)
Junior’s Farm (Wings song)
Letting Go (Wings song)
She’s a Woman (The Beatles song)
Got to Get You Into My Life (The Beatles song)
Come On to Me
Let Me Roll It (Wings song) (with “Foxy Lady” by Jimi Hendrix coda)
Getting Better (The Beatles song)
Let ‘Em In (Wings song)
My Valentine (dedicated to Nancy Shevell)
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five (Wings song)
Maybe I’m Amazed
I’ve Just Seen a Face (The Beatles song)
In Spite of All the Danger (The Quarrymen song)
Love Me Do (The Beatles song)
Dance Tonight
Blackbird (The Beatles song)
Here Today (dedicated to John Lennon)
Now and Then (The Beatles song) (live debut)
New
Lady Madonna (The Beatles song)
Jet (Wings song)
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (The Beatles song)
Something (The Beatles song) (dedicated to George Harrison)
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (The Beatles song)
Band on the Run (Wings song)
Get Back (The Beatles song)
Let It Be (The Beatles song)
Live and Let Die (Wings song)
Hey Jude (The Beatles song)
Encore:
I’ve Got a Feeling (The Beatles song) (with virtual duet with John Lennon from The Beatles’ rooftop concert and new coda)
Birthday (The Beatles song)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (The Beatles song)
Helter Skelter (The Beatles song)
Golden Slumbers (The Beatles song)
Carry That Weight (The Beatles song)
The End (The Beatles song)