Pop songs are handily beating out traditional hymns in England as the preferred soundtrack for the final goodbye, the Telegraph reports. A survey of 30,000 funeral-services conducted shows that 58% of funerals feature popular music as the top request, versus 35% for hymns; classical grabs just 7%. The top request? Frank Sinatra’s My Way is the most popular song played at funeral services, of course.
A chart-topping cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah recorded just months ago already makes the list. The more adventurous recently deceased have requested Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell and AC/DC’s Highway to Hell for their last hurrah. More traditionally, hymns including The Lord Is My Shepherd and All Things Bright And Beautiful are among music chosen by people to accompany their final journey.
You Raise Me Up by Westlife made its first appearance in the top 10, alongside Angels by Robbie Williams and Over The Rainbow by Eva Cassidy.
Humour played a part in many funerals, with Always Look On The Bright Side of Life from Monty Python’s Life of Brian among the most requested tunes. Funeral homes also reported a number of unusual requests, including the Radio 4 Shipping Forecast and the themes to everything from Only Fools and Horses and Top Gear to Benny Hill, Z Cars and Channel 4 Racing.
Some songs are considered too outlandish for the occasion, however. One in every 10 requests is rejected by the clergy conducting the ceremony on the grounds of inappropriateness, according to the survey by Co-operative Funeralcare, the UK’s largest funeral director. Lorinda Sheasby of Co-operative Funeralcare said the findings indicate that tastes are changing, with television programmes and chart hits influencing people’s choices.