What do you want them to play at your funeral?

162 Responses

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  • Lindsay Vette,

    For me:

    Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
    Rolling Stones - Love in Vain
    Beatles - While my Guitar Gently Weeps

    Not that I expect such a thing at my funeral, but I attended a really uplifting funeral (strange to say but it was) this year after a wonderful elderly aunt of mine passed away. Despite coming from a pakeha background, she had a number of maori grandsons-in-law and quite a number of maori great grandsons. Anyway, as the hearse was pulling out of the funeral chapel, the boys gave their Nanna Peg a rousing haka that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and sent a chill down the spine. It was an amazing send off to an amazing woman.

    Can you believe that most refugees settled through the Mangere Refugee Centre in the past few years received T shirts and sweatshirts made by my Aunt Peg? A project taken on voluntarily in her 80s to welcome new New Zealanders to the country.

    Tauranga • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    What a fine Aunt, Lindsay. So glad she had a lovely send-off.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Muriel Lockheed,

    Always look on the bright side of life - Monty Python

    Wellywood • Since Nov 2006 • 44 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    A song that encapsulates a lot of how I look and at life and is one of my favourites so manages to be veyr germaine whilst also too too appropriate "Goin' Underground" -The Jam.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • Carmel B,

    I have stayed true to one song: Caribou by the Pixies
    a fitting and beautiful lament
    or celebration

    or just the call of the wild

    I just hope my family remember that's what I want ;-)

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Annett,

    "Young wings can fly" by Johnny and the Attractions.
    And they can play "Should I stay or should I go" by the Clash as they carry me out...

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • rob shearer,

    sympathy for the devil

    Since Nov 2006 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Adrian Humm,

    Whilst working as a pall-bearer in the UK last year (I prefer the NZ way with families/friends doing it but I needed the dosh) I was told by the regulars in the top hats that the theme from The Great Escape is a popular choice.

    My cheesy choice would be Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: Peter Green would have 'em blubbing.

    The WTF choice is The Dogs & The Horses from The Divine Comedy. Over the top, campish, melodramatic and yet somehow moving if you want.

    "So the only thing to feel sad about is all the dogs and the horses you'll have to outlive
    They'll be with you when you say goodbye"

    More seriously, a fantastic young man died here recently. The service was packed and the mood was sombre. On came Singing in my Soul by Fly My Pretties. Hundreds of eyes gushed out tears but the way the music lifted everyone at the same time was a sublime experience. To paraphrase Plato, music finds its way into the secret places of the soul.

    Dargaville • Since Nov 2006 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • Matt Godfrey,

    Watermelon in Easter Hay - Frank Zappa

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Lee Wilkinson,

    Shine on you crazy diamond
    Ramones, I wanna be sedated
    Cake, I will survive
    and Im amazed no-ones added Bowies, Major Tom

    Whangarei Heads • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Biggs,

    Do You Realise by the Flaming Lips is good but I'd go Feeling yourself Disintegrate." but life without death, is just impossible, oh to realise something is ending within us....feeling yourself disintegrate" For someone who's not religious it fits in nicely. Once you're dead, that's it, you're fertilizer mate.
    Maybe something ambient. Brian Enos Becalmed would be nice.
    Or just to scare away the very few people who would bother their arses to see me off something like John Cales version of Heartbreak Hotel or the White Stripes Hardest Button To Button at ear splitting volume to piss off everybody I didn't piss off in life.

    Matt

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Terence Wood,

    I reckon I'd let my firends and family choose.

    Afterall, they'll be the ones listening to it - not me.

    Since Nov 2006 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    I can't help thinking of the excruciating funeral scene in Love Actually reading some of the cheerier numbers in this topic :-)

    The obvious choice for the fan boys and girls amongst us is Shore/Walsh/Lennox's Into the West. Not the Yulia version.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Clarke,

    I would have to choose Rossini's William Tell Overture. More for the looks on the punters' faces than the tune.

    -36.76, 174.61 or thereab… • Since Nov 2006 • 164 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    I'm quite fond of Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah.

    Though Tom Traubert's Blues by Tom Waits would have to be up for consideration.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    "asylum escape songs" by Renee Louise Carafice

    Being a friend of Renee from way back in the day, I'm pretty sure she'd be tickled pink by that.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rooney,

    The Joker- Steve Miller Band

    Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • kerry w,

    Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah for me too...followed by the Chilli's version of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground...

    Since Nov 2006 • 9 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Kennedy,

    "Phuck U Symphony" - Millie Jackson, my friends would get the joke.
    Hope There's Someone - Antony & the Johnsons, because Antony Hegarty should be played at all funerals.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report Reply

  • Roch Garner,

    "You are my light house"... By Amity Dry
    great song and it really hits home when you sit and lisiten to it


    you are my light house, leading me home ..........

    New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Jose Barbosa,

    The Strokes - Ask Me Anything. Just to be nihilistic cause, you know, I'm angsty.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Louise Mercer,

    I'm going the short route so will naturally have 'All Fired Up' by Pat Benatar. Sort of fits the purpose, really!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Adrian Wills,

    Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)...

    It's not so much the lyrics but the feeling that the song evokes.

    Parnell, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Adrian Wills,

    Or Interpol - Untitled...

    Gee now I just can't decide...

    Parnell, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Skinner,

    'Going Underground' by The Jam!!!

    Since Nov 2006 • 2 posts Report Reply

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