It's often the case these days that a 'secular' song is requested at the end of a funeral service. At one time the favourite was 'My Way', which is a trend that has thankfully passed. But such songs can be very powerful. I once took a funeral of a young guy who died of cancer, and the service ended with 'The Drugs Don't Work' by the Verve, which just about finished all of us.
On a sillier note (if that's possible with this subject matter) my colleague Matthew and I were wondering what would be a really unfortunate choice at a cremation. The following emerged
Light My Fire - The Doors
Fire - Arthur Brown
Disco Inferno - The Trammps
Eternal Flame - The Bangles
and of course 'Colours of Day' could be a tricky one to sing in that context.
Maybe we should stop there!
Firestarter - Prodigy
ReplyDeleteAshes to Ashes - David Bowie
Beds are Burning - Midnight Oil
Slow burn - David Bowie
Have had a similar conversation (as a joke) around wedding songs, first dance, entrance theme etc. Mike can verify that none of these made their way into my wedding service:
ReplyDeleteI hate you so much right now-Kelise
Please release me, let me go-Various Crooners
Single- Natasha Bedingfield
Any others???
For a funeral
ReplyDeleteJonny Cash - Ring of fire
Weddings:
ReplyDeleteSet me free, why don't you babe (Supremes or Kim Wilde)
(All that's left is a) Band of Gold
Hymns for weddings:
Fight the Good Fight
I forgot that we had Firestarter on our original list - thanks for the reminder, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteRe Emma's contribution: my dad has actually taken a funeral where they played Ring of Fire...
ReplyDeleteoh no!
ReplyDeleteMy dad said today at the dinner table that he and his friend had been talking about funerals (as you do) and he wants to go out to Ring of Fire... typical! If I have any say on the matter I think I'll object.
ReplyDelete