This article answers frequently asked questions about funeral songs. Funerals have been used for thousands of years to express our beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. The relationship between music and memories is incredibly powerful, and research has shown that music reactivates areas of the brain associated with memory.
A recent study in BMC Neuroscience has given new insights into the role of emotion in memory. Emotions enhance making memories, and music often evokes strong emotions. When choosing funeral songs, you should consider the feelings and memories the songs will likely provoke.
We hope this FAQ helps guide you in making good selections.
What are funeral songs?
Funeral songs are sung or played at a memorial service for the dead. Funeral songs set the mood and provoke memories of the deceased, honor the deceased’s life, and give us something to hold onto when we get emotional.
What are good funeral songs?
Good funeral songs honor the dead and give those grieving hope and closure. Although what makes good funeral songs is very subjective, the music should connect to the deceased, provoke positive memories, and provide comfort and support.
What makes a good funeral song?
Good funeral songs honor the dead, provoke positive memories, and give us hope. Music is that singular element that can add dimension, emotion, beauty, and lasting memories to a funeral service.
Songs like My Way, Simply the Best, and Nothing Compares to You, are popular contemporary songs played at funerals because they help us remember the deceased in a positive light.
However, when choosing the music, you must take into consideration the setting. In more traditional settings, songs like “Amazing Grace,” “Ave Maria,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “Hallelujah” often blend better with the mood and setting the family wishes to create.
There’s no rule saying that funeral songs should be solemn, and it’s OK to pick both upbeat and sad songs for your loved one. You can do whatever suits you and your ceremony.
Funerals offer a chance for relatives and friends to show their love and respect for someone they care about. A family can often adjust to a loss by seeing how others care.
What is the most played funeral songs?
Sky News reports that You’ll Never Walk Alone overtook Frank Sinatra’s My Way as the most-played funeral song in the UK. The UK-based Co-op Funeralcare compiled a Funeral Music Chart from 2002 to 2019. The Top 10 Funeral Songs list includes:
- “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
- “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli
- “Over The Rainbow” by Eva Cassidy
- “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler
- “Angels” by Robbie Williams
- “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran
- “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole
- “You Raise Me Up” by Westlife
- “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn
- “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” by Eric Idle from “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”
What is the most common song played at a funeral?
“Ave Maria,” a traditional song recorded by many artists, is one of the most common songs played at funerals. Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind”. “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman and “My Way” by Frank Sinatra are also very popular. Country music playlists are also often requested.
How many songs at a funeral?
The number of songs depends on the format of the memorial. A funeral service should have three to four songs, and the service usually begins with a more serious selection. A song that tells the story of a loved one’s life is traditionally played after the eulogy and sometimes after a reading.
What song do you want played at your funeral?
Most people don’t think about what music should be played at their funeral until they experience a funeral themselves. Then they may think about it and never tell anyone their thoughts. This puts the burden of selecting the music on someone that is morning your loss. There’s no better time than now to think about how you would like to be remembered.
