Always look on the bright side (popular funeral songs - dumbing down death?)

BBC ^ | 3/11/05 | Alexis Akwagyiram

[Libloather]

Queen's Who Wants to Live Forever

Something proper? How about Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now'?

[BigSkyFreeper]

I had a cousin who died unexpectedly in 1984 at the age of 16. One of the songs sung at her funeral was Over The Rainbow, because she loved rainbows.

[KimmyJaye]

I want "Many Rivers to Cross" played at my funeral. Only problem is, I want Oleta Adams to sing it. Not so certain she'd show up.

;-)

[Paleo Conservative]

They better not play Highway to Hell at my funeral!

[bahblahbah]

There are some pop songs like might work at a funeral, but the songs listed here are just pathetic.

[Libloather]

Not so certain she'd show up.

She might, but I'm pretty sure you won't...

[Jeff Chandler]

At whose funeral might they sing "Ding dong, the witch is dead?"

[KimmyJaye]

LOL- Good one.

[Paleo Conservative]

[kb2614]

How about Motorhead's "Dancing On Your Grave"?? Too over the top??

;-)

[thecabal]

Frank Sinatra's My Way and Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life followed Angels in the poll, making up the top three.

Good Lord, I don't know how I would react if I went to a funeral where they played Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The whole absurdity of it makes me want to laugh just thinking about it. Since the funerals on one side of my family sometimes have a bit a self-deprecating humor in them, I guess it shouldn't strike me as such an odd song.

[Jaysun]

I recently attended this black guy's funeral and it was very different than other funerals I've been to. I don't go to tons of funerals, and this was the first one that I attended for a black guy, so I don't know if it was just this one in particular or if it's the norm.

Everything was pretty much like any other funeral I've been to until we got to the grave site. The two people that said a few words weren't shy about telling everyone the guy's shortcomings. The second speech amounted to a scathing attack. The preacher spoke with the enthusiasm of a pro wrestler and the songs were especially odd, to me anyway. Of the songs that were played, the most appropriate one to the occasion was "Spirit in the Sky" by "Doctor & the Medics". My buddy (the nephew of the deceased) asked me what I thought. I told him that it was weird because of the reasons mentioned above and he just laughed his ass off. He's going to a white funeral with me next time, maybe he'll see what I mean.

[primeval patriot]

My request,

Elvis: Peace in the Valley

[Libloather]

How about some Motley Crue - 'Kickstart My Heart'?

[BipolarBob]

They better not play Highway to Hell at my funeral!

I've already warned the progeny and kinfolks about this. But possibly all it did was plant the seed. Doh!

[richmwill]

I've told my siblings that I want "My Way" played at my funeral. Not the Sinatra version- the Sid Vicious version!

[primeval patriot]

Talentless clowns?

Naw.

[Libloather]

Talentless clowns?

This may not be the best time to talk about the DemocRATS - eh?

[thathamiltonwoman]

If anybody sings that drippy Robbie Williams song at my funeral I'll have to rise up and smack them.

[Veto!]

I'm not attached to traditional funerals at all. I'm leaving instructions for my kids to have me cremated and sprinkle my ashes off Paradise Cove in Malibu, followed by a festive dinner at the restaurant there. Probably music by the Beachboys would work, though I hadn't given it any thought yet.

"She had fun fun fun til her Daddy took her T-Bird awaaa-aaay" sounds about right. There's an existential message in there, not hidden deep at all, in fact right on the surface.