So you're dead

[Balloonhearts]

So you're sadly dead, you got hit by a bus, which was unfortunately on time for a fucking change, what song would you want at your funeral?

I think I'd want Little Wonders by Rob Thomas. I like to think I'd have something really funny and inappropriate but realistically some of my family would not find that funny.

I’m having these….

Mike Oldfield - The Bell
Nils Lofgren - Believe (for my kids)
Rush - Time Stand Still
TBS - Dream a Little Dream

Then as the curtains close….I’m having

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me) 🥴😝

I’d come in to You’re Dead by Norma Tanega, go out to The Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Probably play The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams in the middle. Or something similarly peaceful.

After 20 years working as a funeral director you wouldn't believe some of the music we've been asked for.
Great balls of fire. Firestarter , Ring of fire (At a cremation )
Highway to hell. Please don't talk about me when I've gone. Thats an old one by Dean Martin. It would make us smile when they wanted My Way for Dad because ' he always had his own way' Or Tina Turners The best because ' they were the best ' Very popular choices.
We had a regular celebrant who would find some obscure music the families asked for. We once had a family who brought a C.D of the deceased singing ( we always had to check them before we submitted them to the crematorium or place of worship) and not being awful they seriously thought it was good and 'she had a lovely voice ' It was excruciating.
My choice for my own funeral would be Gabriel's oboe by Ennio Morricone.

Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

This Woman’s Work by Kate Bush.
Rule the World by Take That
Kashmir by Escala

I'm probably an awful person, but the bit about the deceased singing with their 'interesting' voice did make me laugh!

End Credits - Chase and Status/Plan B

I am to be cremated and "Come On Baby, Light my fire" is to be played.

My coffin will come in to The Imperial March from Star Wars and go out to The Ride of the Valkyries.

My haunting song will be There's a Ghost in My House by R Dean Taylor. Everyone who's ever pissed me off had better watch out.

Good call.

I would like Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Husband and children are under strict instructions about this. They can throw me away in a cardboard box if they want, as long as this song is playing at the same time! Oh and Abide with Me as a hymn if I do eng up with a church service

Happy Phantom by Tori Amos.
Hilarious and giddy.

Always say to people my funeral song as they leave is Highway To hell AC DC

Some of the suggestions are undeniably funny on paper. I know for a fact if I was attending my DH funeral, or him mine, there could be the funniest song on earth playing & I doubt either of us would be having a laugh at the service. It's no criticism of people who make this choice just a reflection of how I know we would be feeling.

A relative whose funeral we attended recently had "Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye". I thought it was a great choice and would consider it.

I’m having Taylor Swift ‘Me’. I’ve thought about it a lot.

Yes, I agree.

I also think that some of them, whilst funny when suggested by currently very much alive people about being dead in a kind of as-yet abstract way, could cause real traumas for some of their loved ones when it comes to their actual funeral.

I think it's easy to forget that your funeral is for your family and friends; and the one person who will know nothing nor have any response to it will be you. You won't feel sad, but they may well be heartbroken and in an extremely difficult place.

Absolutely. I applaud loved ones who have the strength to have a laugh at the deceased choice of music during the service. When my slim healthy & extremely close brother died very suddenly of a heart attack in his 50s there is no way I could have laughed given my legs would hardly hold me up. As it was his wife chose a couple of songs I recognised as his favourites. It was comforting & I know he would have approved. Thankfully they were both ballads.

I don't know that I would want to choose the song at my own funeral. I would be intrigued to see how others choose. I definitely have several people I will haunt. I won't be subtle about it either. If I'm haunting, I'm going all out. I do have a long list. But, I'm not going to waste all of my time on those who wronged me. They truly don't deserve the headspace. I will make sure that my loved ones know I am still there with them.