November 22, 2006

Most requested songs at funerals. What would you want played at your funeral?
posted by Argh 17 years ago
  • Something obscene.
  • I would have guessed James Blunt and Robbie Williams were the artists that sent most people TO their graves.
  • Oh yeah, forgot to answer the question... hmm... I'd probably have a Balkan Gipsy band playing at mine. The Boban Markovic Orkestra will do just fine.
  • Hm.. I see "pie jesu" from requiem in the list? Whose requiem? Fauré? Anyway, I would like to have Mahler's 2nd symphony (for orchestra, choir, alto and soprano) played at my funeral. Live...
  • 'How Soon Is Now' by The Smiths. The full 6 minute version. Make 'em sit there through the whole lot. Then all back to the social club for a piss-up and sausage rolls.
  • This (youtube). I'd want it to be a giant sing-a-long.
  • Ra Ra Rasputin by Boney M or perhaps something by Nurse With Wound. "Thank God I Died in the Car Crash" by the Frogs?
  • Dead by They Might Be Giants. I will never say the word procrastinate again...
  • No Stairway to Heaven. I think Mozart's setting of Ave Verum Corpus might be nice at my funeral. By a theremin ensemble.
  • Definitely Ave Verum on theremin. That's one of the best suggestions I've ever heard! We've had a bunch of older members of the Gilbert and Sullivan society pass away in the last year. "When the Buds are Blossoming" from Ruddigore and "I Hear the Soft Note" from Patience are songs we've done at a couple of the services. I'd love to have my memorial be nothing but a big singalong of all my favorite songs.
  • My 26 yr old cousin died in a cliff diving accident and at his funeral, one of his friends played the chord progression for Little Wing on the classical guitar while people were being seated. I knew that my cousin LOVED Jimi Hendrix and hearing that song made the whole event even more emotional. It wouldn't have been the same to hear 'Amazing Grace' in his context. My great Aunt had a huge and enviable collection of country western 8-tracks (Elvis, Hank, Willie, Merle, Patsy, etc... omg, to have gotten my hands on that...) and at her funeral they played Love Me Tender, Crazy, Waltz Across Texas, and a couple of others that were so perfect for her. We had BBQ and beer at the reception afterwards in the traditional Central Texas style. Those funerals got me thinking about my own funeral music and here's my list: 'Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain' by Willie Nelson because gosh, it's so pretty and melancholy and I think i have known that song the longest. 'Neon Lights' Kraftwerk cover by Senor Coconut. This one is to be played in the middle of the service to give people time to reflect and because I love Kraftwerk. The last one would be 'O Nosso Amor' written by Jobim for the Black Orpheus Soundtrack. this song is Carnival samba drums with accordion and tamborine playing a cyclical melody you won't be able to get out of your head and a rhythm you can't help but shake your ass to. That one's to be played at the end as you're walking out past the dead me. awesome, i'm dead and you're dancing.
  • Depending on method of dispatch: "Going Underground" - the Jam "Fire" - the Crazy World of Arthur Brown
  • I Am The Resurrection by The Stone Roses
  • Tubular Bells.
  • my friend always says play `spirit in the sky` i think by Norm greenbuam.I say play whatever you want.i`ll be dead.
  • Alice in Chains -- "Man in the Box"
  • What a horrible, horrible list of songs that top ten is. I couldn't put my family and friends (assuming they'd come, of course) through that. I'd love to go with something fun, like The Pogues' Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, but I'd more likely play Shine On You Crazy Diamond (all 9 parts).
  • lol @ MonkeyFlitter
  • On file at my local funeral home, my official instructions indicate that want played "Mack the Knife." I heard it once played at a funeral (I was a mortician for two years, so I've been to LOTS of funerals).
  • *plans to lip-synch mincingly at kitfisto's funeral*
  • I've said to my partner that if something happens before the singularlity and I'm not uploaded, then he better find a recording of Sinatra's 'My Way' which sounds exceptionally bitter and sad. Bonus points if the recording includes Frank telling people to shut the hell up or something.
  • For a swap thing, actually put together a CD of songs I'd want played at my funeral. I included "Can't Make a Sound" and "Bye" by Elliott Smith, "Jig of Life" by Kate Bush, "Cannons" by Siouxsie and the Banshees, "Goodnight Song" by Tears for Fears..and much more, but those five, I think, are the most important to me.
  • BTW, I'm always amazed at how people misinterpret the lyrics of "Every Breath You Take." Hell, if I heard that played at a funeral, I would take that as an ominous message to expect a haunting.
  • "Ace of Spades" by Mötörhead. I'd better put that in my will. *phones lawyer*
  • NMH - Two Headed Boy pt2
  • "Imperial Death March" from Star Wars, when the coffin is being carried out.
  • Maybe I'll have them play "Old Shep," just to make sure everybody's crying even if they're not sad at my death. I'm also taken with the idea of getting a bunch of ten-year-olds to get up and sing a rousing chorus of "Great Green Globs of Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts."
  • Topolino and I are in agreement with the Elliott Smith songs--that was always my secret pick. Drivingmenuts, you rule!
  • Bah, as I live life to the tune of a soundtrack, I'd insist on a playlist throughout the services... Though I'm half-tempted to say that I'd end things with a Jeff Buckley tune - "Last Goodbye" perhaps? Would be nice to toss in some Blatz, ala "Fuck Shit Up" in there as well. A little Fats Domino to boot... an 80's interlude... And a dash of Merzbow for texture. Heh.
  • Squirrel Nut Zippers, "Hell" Pogues, "The Body of an American" Kate Bush, "Wuthering Heights" The end coda from Derek and the Dominos' "Layla" Speaking of misunderstood songs, Green Day's "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)"
  • Tom Waits, "You're Innocent When You Dream"
  • Geez. I don't really find the top ten appropriate for the occasion. I'd want something more like...the Carmina Burana.
  • "Mother Earth Blues", Memphis Slim "Send Me to Glory in a Glad Bag", Voice Male "Please Don't Bury Me", John Prine
  • Around here, music at wakes isn't customary, though at high-end funeral houses piped-in elevator-like versions of classical and 'easy listening' pieces are used sometimes. And if there's a ceremony before going to the cemetery, it's either some organ music at the church or, this mostly at smaller cities and villages, a live band of folk musicians following the casket to its' resting place. And I second "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers.
  • No contest. Raffi's Bananaphone.
  • zorgon, if you're gonna do Motorhead, at least go with "Stone Dead Forever".
  • "Since the Last Time," Lyle Lovett.
  • No contest. Raffi's Bananaphone. Make a singalong and played on the theramin, and I think it'll work. (-:
  • I like "Tubular Bells" and "Hell". Or maybe the extended dance mix of "Bela Lugosi's Dead".
  • I want Canon in D played several times alternating with bagpipes playing the traditional pibroach. Jus' sumpin' different.