Songs not to play at a funeral

[MikeRafone]

Another one bites the dust - Queen
Staying alive bee gees
Smoke gets in my eyes the platters

We had this for my sister - she would have loved it!

Ding dong the witch is dead from the Wizard of Oz

My neighbour had The Wheels on the Bus

My DH is a massive Jam fan. That’s definitely being played at his funeral.

Now I need to know what the other thread was! 😂

🤣👏

Ex DP insisted he wanted "Fuck her gently" by Tenacious D played at his. It would be "hilarious". When I pointed out that a) no one would agree to play it and b) it would be awful for his kids and family to have to hear that at such a difficult time he assured me that his best friend would get it played and his kids would love it as it would be so funny.

Yes his immaturity was one of the reasons I got rid of him.

I’d argue this was a perfect funeral song. Have you listened to the lyrics?

Yes, it’s one of my favourite songs and something I would choose, but always conscious that the title would sound awful. Hence it springing to mind.

Chop Suey... 🎵 "... when angels deserve to die... " 🎶 😬

I remember reading ages ago about a couple getting married who asked for 'the song from Robin Hood' as she walked down the aisle - meaning Bryan Adams singing Everything I Do, I Do It For You.

The wires got crossed somewhere as she ended up walking in to the old 1950's TV theme tune: "Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen"

We Have All The Time In The World- I still want it though

People can make joke wishes and requests but it's not always what the grieving want to hear on the day. That said, if you chose an appropriate very sad song, well, firstly you probably won't want to hear that song ever again and secondly close family will be in bits, a funeral can be very traumatising when you have to keep a brave face for other relatives.

I'd heard that story too but always assumed it must be an urban legend 😅

Apparently Every Breath You Take is a popular first dance song as well - presumably by people who have never in fact listened to the song. Who wants to dance at their wedding to 🎵 "every vow you break... every smile you fake" 🎵

I bet some of the songs listed on this thread are genuinely popular at funerals, though (as some PP have indicated, in fact!).

There are different theories about it... some say it was written sarcastically when the writer's GF left him and moved abroad. Maybe it could also be interpreted as the person choosing the song saying Good Riddance to all the negative things about life whilst celebrating the good things that happened, rather than the bereaved people saying Good Riddance to the deceased person?!

It's a great song, but I far prefer the version that Glen Campbell recorded towards the end of his life. For me, it's like the version of In My Life recorded by Johnny Cash in one of his last albums as opposed to when the Beatles first recorded it (still as young men): I find them both so much more evocative when sung by an old person looking back on all of the years and experiences they've already had.

I thought The Air That I Breathe was totally inappropriate for the funeral of a very elderly lady. I doubt she requested it

Down down deeper and down (Quo)

I completely agree: some people with a good sense of humour deliberately choose songs that are simultaneously highly appropriate AND highly inappropriate. It's very different indeed when the deceased person chose it for themselves with a wry smile, rather than a bereaved family member choosing it for them.

I get knocked down, but I get up again by chumbawamba.

I was brought up going to church and always thought the hymn 'up from the grave he arose' might be fun.

The Jam...Funeral pyre.

It's very different indeed when the deceased person chose it for themselves with a wry smile, rather than a bereaved family member choosing it for them.

I think the age of the person matters too - if you're 90+ then you've got a bit more leeway to choose something that might raise a smile (but which could be upsetting at a younger person's funeral even if it was their stated wish).

Maybe; but I think a lot of people do just choose songs that they've always really loved, rather than ones that are necessarily appropriate or poignant in a funeral setting. That song was released well over 50 years ago, so unless you're talking about a funeral from a very long time in the past, she wouldn't have been very elderly for her whole life.

Especially in the tragic cases of very young people who probably never paid much mind to dying and appropriate songs about it; nor indeed, sadly, will have had very long to look back on all of their many experiences or to ever adjust into a mindset of being in the twilight of their lives.

Bridge Over Troubled Water was played at my wife's funeral, her choice. She used to sing it to our daughters so hearing it brings both happy and sad feelings to my mind.

My grandad had smokes get in your eyes played as the coffin went behind the curtain at the crematorium. It was his wish and it was the best part. Everyone smiled at the end of the funeral. Perfect.

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye.