I'm in quite a melancholy mood today..probably the grey, Fall day we have here. But my thoughts are also prompted by the theme of one of my favourite radio shows I listened to last night. The topic was, Music to be played at your funeral.
So, here's the question: when you finally shuffle off this mortal coil, what sort of music would you like to be played at your funeral/wake/celebration of your life/ whatever? I have a few ideas myself, but I'd love to read other people's choices. Looking on the net, the cbc did an article on this a couple of years back, and here are some of their choices, more pop based than classical:
Goodbye My Lover, James Blunt. Angels, Robbie Williams I've Had the Time of My Life, Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler Pie Jesu, Requiem Candle in the Wind, Elton John With or Without You, U2 Tears from Heaven, Eric Clapton Every Breath You Take, The Police Unchained Melody, Righteous Brothers
God, these are hearbreaking. OK, I suppose, if you want people to weep over your casket.
I have never been to a viewing or a funeral with music, but some things that stand out for me, were it for my funeral :
"Cantalibre" "Fugue in D Minor" "I Love Rock N' Roll" - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts "Highway to Hell" - Bad Company "Take it to the Limit" - The Eagles
That's all that comes to mind straight off. All touch a little on who I am. I may revisit the thread as I think of more.
I'll post my entire list later (I really have put a great deal of thought about this over these many years.), but the lists has several versions of St. James Infirmary, and at least two Rolling Stones cuts.
St. James Infirmary Blues - Benkó Dixieland Band (The band is a Hungarian one, and the accent is the same as ones I heard when I was growing up. It really reminds me of my childhood. The singer obviously heard Jack Teagarden's version of St James. If there is anyone left from the old neighborhood, they'll smile when they hear this.)
These are all such great posts. If you had all somehow posted anonymously, I would still have been able to say, "Ah, that's Fred," or, "That's got to be DG." I'm going to listen to all your suggestions, and maybe steal a few for my own shebang.
DS, I think you need to add G N' R. It's just SO you..so much angst and big hair. November Rain Dennis, I imagined a female chorus standing around your casket singing a particular Blondie song.
Fred, not to get too morbid, but do they have viewings before funerals with open caskets in the UK? I seem to remember the whole thing is a much more low key affair than here.
Actually, "November Rain" would be a very good choice as Guns was a huge part of my life for a short while.
Having time to think about it, as the raft with my body was pushed out onto the lake and set ablaze, Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" would be the perfect accompaniment to the whatever lies beyond.
Fred, not to get too morbid, but do they have viewings before funerals with open caskets in the UK? I seem to remember the whole thing is a much more low key affair than here.
Could have added " Right, said Fred " performed by Bernard Cribbins:
" 'Right', said Fred, 'both of us together, One each end and steady as you go...' " It's supposed to be about piano shifters but it has a certain something.
Open caskets? We don't have 'caskets', only 'coffins' The practice of having an open coffin has, as it were, died out. My grandmother's generation sometimes practised it, visitors being invited into the room where the corpse was on display "to pay their respects [to the deceased]" which was more than they ever did when the deceased was alive.
In Ireland, they still practise a wake, a famously happy and boozy proceeding.Even now, the corpse commonly isn't in a coffin but just laid out, hence the Irish expression during the cheerful event '....and give the woman in the bed more porter'.
Originally posted by FredPuli: [Could have added " Right, said Fred " performed by Bernard Cribbins:
" 'Right', said Fred, 'both of us together, One each end and steady as you go...' " It's supposed to be about piano shifters but it has a certain something.
Oh wow! I haven't heard that in years. You can't hear that song and not be happy! Right Said Fred You keep doing this to me! (I did have Sooty and Sweep puppets, btw! I'd forgotten all about them, too.)
How about Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony, 2nd movement (I think? -- haven't listened for a while) in which the strings sounds like they're crying -- really keening and wailing -- more than any piece of music I know. I think T. was pretty depressed when he wrote it -- notwithstanding the triumphant 3rd movement (I'll leave strict instructions to skip it.)
Everyone might as well have a good cry before they serve the deli tray & wine at the shiva. Then maybe something happy & upbeat -- I'd suggest the Beatles's Oblah-di - Oblah-da, which always lifts my spirits.
Meanwhile my cremated remains will be turned into diamond.
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Then maybe something happy & upbeat -- I'd suggest the Beatles's Oblah-di - Oblah-da, which always lifts my spirits.
