The World-Famous Official ‘Spill 30-Day Musical Challenge
(Rules)
Day 24 topic: a song that you want played at your funeral
Please include song name & artist in your post for Chris
.
The World-Famous Official ‘Spill 30-Day Musical Challenge
(Rules)
Day 24 topic: a song that you want played at your funeral
Please include song name & artist in your post for Chris
.
I’m not really a fan of pop music at funerals, but that’s probably just me, at the risk of not taking this very seriously I’m going to select Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead
Steady As She Goes – The Raconteurs
My funeral will takes ages as I’ve got a massive play-list, but after all the Gene Vincent, Bill Haley and “Born To Be Wild”, you can wrap up with this.
Woody Guthrie “So Long, It’s Been Good To Know You”
That’s nice, happy but not a dry eye in the house ! And if anyone puts on any Who, Stones or Beatles, your spirit will descend on the proceedings and manifest itself to punch the DJ on the nose…
PS. Please take note. I’m probably closer to needing this than most of you lot!
Easy. The Cowboy Junkies version of TVZ’s To Live is to Fly
Although I’d really like another couple of choices too…
The other one I really want, particularly if I have a church funeral, is I Am The Resurrection by The Stone Roses.
She goes on forever
She goes on forever
Yeah, she’s gonna shine forever
(Ooh-wee-ooh)
Like a diamond
In the sunlight…
Not that I intend to die, actually, but just in case.
Like A Diamond by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This song’s about hope and how it’s available to all of us.
(Another) good one, I like that.
I specially like the ooh-wee-oohs
This is making me think that i should have chosen Instant Karma instead.
Things I read in the Observer today no. 1:
“It’s not strictly true that all living things grow old and die. The jellyfish Turritopsis nutricula returns to sexual immaturity after reproducing and is believed to be biologically immortal.” (New Review p 21)
Trouble is, it’ll then make all those same mistakes…
The natural world puts all the foibles of human sexuality and proclivity into perspective. Those jellyfish can make all the mistakes they want, they can always get it right next time….
I think I go for something different every time this question gets asked. Sometimes it’s Walk Away Renee, sometimes The Triffids’ Save What You Can. Today, I’m gonna go for this:
Scott Matthew: In The End
Now you mention the Triffids, Jerdacuttup Man might be good for a laugh.. now, where did I put the telephone number of my attorney..
The Wolfgang Press – The Great Leveller
‘so long dead’ and ‘executioner’ would follow me onto the compost heap too.
I can’t really take it seriously either… let’s see.. if anyone’s being dragged along to pay their last respects, I think they’ll appreciate something to lift their spirits… so I’ll go for
Eddie Harris, Instant death.
Well, leaving aside the fact that i actually don’t want a funeral, i guess this is the point where i put up the Stones. If it’s already been nommed, then i’ll pick another.
Rolling Stones – Wild Horses
Used up Heatwave on Day One, and that’s the tune I’d nominated in an EOTWQ asking the same question some time back, specifically for when the coffin heads off to the incinerator. So this choice is for earlier in the proceedings:
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Midnight Train To Georgia
Obviously, this would be a better proposition if I was better placed to witness it, but I can’t think of a better way to get the guests in the right frame of mind by bequeathing them the role of the Pips for an en masse rendition (I’m banking of Gladys herself being persuaded to take lead vocals, you know, if we’re discussing best case scenarios).
Ideally it would be played several times so the congregation could learn the vocals and moves properly.
The way the Pips go beyond the backing group response role and give a commentary, like the chorus in a Greek tragedy, is brilliant innovation in wide lapels.
“Superstar – but he didn’t get far” would be a perfect epitaph for many of us, I suspect.
As epitaphs go, “Woo-wooo!”. complete with the steam whistle mime, would do me.
That’s just the bit I was thinking of for drilling the guests properly. It’s 1..2..3.. Woo whoo !
Twenty-three days and no George and Ira Gershwin – time to put that right:
Ella and Louis – They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Ideally there would be programme notes pointing out that Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich are the band on this. Oscar and Buddy are known as fast and flashy jazz musicians, but the sensitive accompaniment they provide on this is just right.
Ah yes – I’d have gone with Billie but, hey, it’s your funeral. Iiiithankyoo…
Nicely done !
See, I really don’t care, because I’ll be dead and won’t be able to hear the music.
However, I am planning to be cremated so this will probably be appropriate;
Trammps Disco Inferno
LOL
Ah. Earlier this month, I’ve already nominated one out of the three written into my funeral instructions (Mark Hollis’ The Colour Of Spring). The other two are:
This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
and
Gerry & The Pacemakers – You’ll Never Walk Alone
But I haven’t been paying close enough attention to know if either/both has been picked already.
Chris?
You picked YNWA for songs that make you sad but t’other is available.
I spent a happy evening the other day working my way through covers of “Song to the Siren” on youtube (I don’t get out much): The Czars, Sinead, This Mortal Coil of course. My favourite new discovery was Sheila Chandra’s version. I think it’s lovely:
This is my 3rd favourite record ever and the title would fit – not sure it would be what anybody who may be upset about my passing would want to hear though, and to be honest I’m not going to be there to hear it am I. So perhaps I’m not taking it entirely seriously either but this is the first thing that came to mind
Killing Joke – Requiem
This has been my pick for after anybody wants to say a word for a long time. Not sure what I would have plyed prior but always this to end.
Everybody knows This Is Nowhere – Neil Young
Can’t take this very seriously either:
Band of Horses – Funeral
See the psychic Toffee pick of Cemetry Gates is holding up.
Well, yes, if his list was a pick-your-own concept. But the first of the future-picks was actually The Go-Betweens’ Twin Layers Of Lightning which, unless TB is planning some kind of pyre send-off, I can’t quite connect with a funeral. Maybe it’s just the dirge-like tune (no, sorry, TB, that’s unfair and unkind. I withdraw that remark (but I notice you’ve not removed it – Ed.))
Chris, Might have messed up on yesterday’s theme (what was it now? cunnilingus?). If the roolz don’t allow originals & covers in this seemingly endless marathon. I’ll have The Broken Family Band’s Alone In The Makeout Room. TYVM.
I’ve already specified that my funeral consists simply of Dark Star, which I’ve just nominated as my foreplay song. Read into that what you will. So, I suppose I’ll have to go for a religious song, Saint Stephen. It’s the next best thing.
Lady finger, dipped in moonlight
Writing “What for?” across the morning sky
Sunlight splatters dawn with answers
Darkness shrugs and bids the day goodbye
There’s a comment on this clip that backs up my story from yesterday: lost my virginity to this viynal…epic lol
Well, I won’t really care but this is what I always say I’d like, because it’s a great piece of music – Handel’s “Zadok the Priest”:
It is indeed fine music. Benjamin’s ‘bump name’ (ie. what we called him before he was born) was Zadok.
Sam’s was Murgatroyd!
Easy . . .
The ChromePlated Megaphone Of Destiny by The Mothers Of Invention.
Another good one, you’re really strolling through this marathon. I’m blowing bubbles trying to keep up…
My family know that I want to be carried into the building ( I do not want a church ), to “Paris, Texas” and that at some time during the ceremony “Comfortably Numb” should be played.
But as I intend to be cremated – in a non religious ceremony – and as the coffin is being removed the final two passages of this is to be played loudly.
From 7min. 18sec. to end.
King Crimson……”In the Court of the Crimson King”
Why does that happen to me ? Let’s try it this way.
Well I’m not planning on going, they can’t make me but, in the unfortunate situation whereby the Grim Reaper gets the drop on me I’d go for
Joe Tex – Ain’t gonna bump no more.
Might as well annoy the wife one last time, eh ?
Some of you can’t take this seriously, but for others of us this question is rapidly becoming less than academic! At my humanist funeral, with my corpse in a cheap wicker coffin, I hope people will enjoy this song
I heard this in the car on the way to my own Dad’s funeral, and I thought, yeah, that would do for mine!
Oops, sorry Chris – that’s Leonard Cohen ‘A thousand kisses deep’
I’d really like to go like this, but that’s highly unlikely:
Band unknown but the song is Just a Closer Walk with Thee.
Although not Irish, I would like a wake-type do with a couple of mix-tapes for people to get drunk by. I’m sure this would figure on it somehwere:
I Think I’m Going To Hell – My Morning Jacket
I remember as a child going to a wake. It was only later I learned that the big box full of ice and bottled beer on the table was the coffin complete with corpse!
Now you’ve got me thinking I’ll have to hire Fanfare Ciocarlia to play when I go..
It would have been L. Cohen’s Bird on the Wire until Edina started quoting it in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous.
Since this appeared to be a joke about her self-importance it rather took the gloss off for me.
Other thoughts have included The Time Warp and Remember You’re a Womble but the one I’d really like is
Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks.
I have a nagging feeling that this has already been chosen for another day’s topic. Has it?
No, Waterloo Sunset’s fine….
Boom boom.
out go the lights
Find out what music was played at Bob Marley’s funeral in today’s Observer:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/apr/24/bob-marley-funeral-richard-williams
and while you’re at it, there’s also Dorian’s article about PJ Harvey!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/apr/24/pj-harvey-england-shake-interview
I’ve found just the holiday for you tfd – details on RR Facebook page…
Ooh, trapped on a boat with Richard Thompson!
Should you wish, you can listen to the Memorial Service for Jerry Garcia, held on the Polo Field in Golden Gate Park on August 13, 1995, in the Grateful Dead Hour accessed via this link: http://www.dead.net/features/gd-radio-hour/grateful-dead-hour-no-361
Some heartfelt words and music from family and friends.
If it’s not already taken: A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. A ratio of 65% tears to 30% laughter would be good. The other 5% should be reserved for guilt. Of course you should have called more often, offspring! (I intend to die an old man)
From childhood to foreplay to funeral in 3 days! Looking forward to a nice easy subject tonight.
Something uplifting as I’m going down …
RSL – Wesley Music
It does seem a bit odd picking music for your own funeral but I would go for something like this….
The Promise – Bruce Springsteen
Easy one. I’ve long thought that I’d like to have Borders and Time by The Rankin Family as a song to play at my funeral. I think it’s the line “you will not be forgotten” that appeals to me, though the song is really about lovers who have parted ways.
Hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWKVNKq_zYg
The music video is also nice but the audio is upcut at the beginning by a few seconds.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_XfM9lDz8A&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0%5D