Beyoncé's new cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird" on her "Cowboy Carter" album uses the original 1968 backing track by Paul McCartney, including his acoustic guitar and foot tapping. "Blackbird" was written by Paul McCartney for the Beatles' 1968 "White Album", inspired by the call of a blackbird during the Beatles' trip to Rishikesh, India. He later claimed it was a tribute to the civil rights movement. The song has a long history in Black music, with various artists like Aretha Franklin and Sylvester adding their unique interpretations.

The Beyonce cover version, retitled "Blackbiird," features additional harmony vocals by four Black women in country music, Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts and Brittney Spencer. Apparently, Beyonce looks to emphasize the song's historic meaning to her audience.

Of course, McCartney should have invited Black singers to join him on the White Album original. An oversight, which we now can correct, thanks to the BDJ spectral remuxers. So, enjoy Macca's Blackbird with backing vocals by Tanner, Tiera, Reyna and Brittney.

The Beatles' journey to India in 1968 is a fascinating slice of rock 'n' roll history that continues to intrigue music fans and historians alike. It was a time of spiritual exploration and prolific songwriting for the Fab Four. The band, along with their wives, girlfriends, assistants, and a medley of other celebrities like Mike Love from the Beach Boys, traveled to Rishikesh to attend an advanced Transcendental Meditation training session at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

This retreat proved to be a creative boon forPaul McCartney, who wrote many songs during this period. It's widely acknowledged that a significant number of tracks from "The White Album" were penned in India, including "Birthday" and "Back in the USSR".

The snippet of audio from India survives, where the Beatles and friends serenade Mike Love for his birthday. While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact source of inspiration for McCartney's compositions, it's certainly plausible that the camaraderie and musical exchange during such moments could have sparked ideas that later evolved into the tracks on "The White Album."

McCartney's 1987 single "Once Upon a Long Ago" carries with it a bittersweet tale of what could have been a historic collaboration. The song, which was part of McCartney's compilation album "All the Best!" and later released as a single, was initially composed with the Queen frontman in mind.

The story goes that McCartney had envisioned the track as a duet with Mercury. However, due to Mercury's ill health and busy schedule, the collaboration never materialized. McCartney went on to perform the song solo, and it reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart.

Artificial intelligence has opened up new possibilities, allowing fans to experience a version of "Once Upon a Long Ago" featuring Mercury's distinctive voice. This not only showcases McCartney's songwriting prowess but also pays homage to Mercury's enduring legacy.
While it's true that nothing can replace the magic of a real-time collaboration between McCartney and Mercury, AI remixes offer a glimpse into an alternate universe where the two icons perform together.

"Once Upon a Long Ago" serves as a beautiful, if somewhat melancholic, tribute to the power of music and the enduring spirit of creativity that defines both McCartney and Mercury's contributions to the world of music.