[Misc] Music for your wake …

[herecomesaregular]

Went to a mate's mum's funeral recently and I realised how tense I was (I hate being inside a church, sorry). Even though v few people sang the hymns I tried to and I was surprised how much a release of tension it was for me re the situation. Made me think that for my folks, when the time comes, how nice it would be to have a decent sing song, to relax the atmosphere (for me at least). Anyone ever hired some singers or a choir at a funeral? (as generally people don't really sing much on their own).

 

[Zeberdi]

Interesting thoughts...But the subject you brought up is actually quite useful...

Edited out your personal stuff

Good thread though - not a subject that is easy for a lot of us to talk about and can be quite painful imo.

 

[Cotton Socks]

A playlist is an amazing idea. My mum has decided what she wants (no ceremony but you can have a couple of tunes, so she's chosen them) but she wants an 'after party'. I'm now going to make a playlist with her & then do one for myself. Not sure I could get mine to 2 hours as so many songs mean so many different things to me. I guess I could get them condensed into a 'mega mix' Jive Bunny style.
@Zeberdi, Swanny has edited his post after you replied so (for this subject) you should edit your reply as you've quoted him.

 

[METALMICKY]

My mum had the 'Match of The Day' theme tune To be fair it got the crowd going as the opener by some signing nun called Mary O'Hara didn't get the crowd bouncing.

 

[A mex eyecan]

Always look on the bright side of life.

Highway to Hell

Etc

God help me if anyone plays this cliched bollocks that people think are somehow funny, at my funeral.

so what do you want? rather than the easy option of what you dont?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I want this. Very loud.

 

[Zeberdi]

My mum had the 'Match of The Day' theme tune To be fair it got the crowd going as the opener by some signing nun called Mary O'Hara didn't get the crowd bouncing.

I remember the day my Dad told me he wanted to ‘go out on‘ the MoTD theme tune and we all laughed - I thought he was kidding but he got his wish. Broke the heavy atmosphere at the end of the funeral though.

 

[BadFish]

It has to be by The Cure

Probably:

 

[Sussexscots]

Dad was from Leith. At his wake, we first played 'Sunshine on Leith' .

Wasn't a dry eye in the house.

 

[m20gull]

Although I have my funeral sorted I haven't done a playlist for the wake. About 5 years ago for my mum's funeral (she was being buried so no need for a curtain tune) after her death my sister and I compiled a playlist for the wake. The songs were taken from her collection so they were songs that we knew she liked but it could also mean we added something that was special to us. And it meant we spent a lot of time thinking about mum in a happy way.

I hadn't thought about doing it for me.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I’ve actually thought I should be thinking along these lines recently.
one hymn I would ask for is “Praise my Soul the King of Heaven”, which was used as a Processional hymn at our wedding for Mrs DiS to walk down the aisle to in 1977. The organist couldn’t manage Widor’s Toccata. I’ve also chosen it at every significant Church event where I’ve been asked to choose a hymn since.
One piece of music I might choose is “Blue Sky” by the “Allman Brothers Band”. It’s been my go to cheery up song since 1972. The instrumental bit in the middle is just stunning. I always thought the words were a bit naff - still do - but that is slightly lessened by finding out that BlueSky was actually the name of Dickey Betts Native American wife when he wrote it.
I would need to write something to explain this
there‘s also a track on an album by Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band called “Pilgrim”, but it might be a bit too intense.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

I went to a service at a local crematorium about 10 years ago. I’m not sure how, but they had technical difficulties with the PA system and instead of the solemn entry hymn, they mistakenly played the deceased’s exit music Bring Me Sunshine by Eric and Ernie. It did break however break the ice and make for a more joyful occasion.

I’m intending to be carried in to Spark’s Nr 1 Song in Heaven.

 

[dazzer6666]

In all honesty I’m not bothered by any of the funeral stuff.

45 minutes of a few people waffling on about how lovely you were, in a conference room with a coffin in the corner before they shoo you out, ready for the next grieving mob.

I’d rather not have one. Genuinely.

Send me off to the furnace without the ceremony.

Had a couple of mates pass recently that didn’t have funerals - just had memorial events some time after (that they had planned)

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Assuming we're talking about the funeral rather than the wake :

Entry - Another One Bites The Dust
During - Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
Exit - Sittin' on The Dock of The Bay

 

[The Clamp]

so what do you want? rather than the easy option of what you dont?

A simple 21 canon salute, nothing fancy. 64 lb’ers will do.

Amazing grace by a lone, IRISH piper.

We’ll close with a piped procession to The Kings Arms in Dorking where everyone can take turns to tell their fond memories of me.

Alternatively, put me in the bin.

 

[AnotherArch]

The wake for a distant relative of my wife was held in a pub in Buxton with a dancefloor. Proper DJ playing the favourites of the deceased. So were dancing to Northern Soul at 3pm on a Friday afternoon!

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

My grandad was carried in to the room by his four grandsons to the "Dance of the sugar plum fairy". After we placed him on the plinth, we were all required to pirouette in time to the music.

His instructions. And none of us were going to deny this lovely man his wish.

 

[loz]

My x brother in law had this…( he was a great bloke and a rock n roller, unfortunately not someone you wanted married to your sister, he up went on a two year world tour with Hawkwind, without informing anyone. )

 

[GJN1]

Lost a good friend very recently and his final song at the crematorium was She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult. Took a few people by surprise when it kicked in.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

My x brother in law had this…( he was a great bloke and a rock n roller, unfortunately not someone you wanted married to your sister, he up went on a two year world tour with Hawkwind, without informing anyone. )

I really like the idea of this. Sounds very appropriate to your brother-in-law.