Pop Rock Songs for a Funeral Service
Gone are the days when the only appropriate songs for funerals were hymns and classical pieces. Today, pop-rock and contemporary music can very tastefully be woven into the funeral ceremony. The trouble is, with so many choices how do you select the right pop-rock songs for funerals? There are really no rules when it comes to choosing funeral songs but you do need to keep in mind the feelings of those who will be attending. As long as you stick to the bounds of good taste and are certain that music would be appreciated by the deceased, you can choose the perfect pop-rock songs for funerals.
There are really no rules when it comes to choosing funeral songs but you do need to keep in mind who will be attending and that it will be a sensitive time for them. As long as you stick to the bounds of good taste and more modern music would be appreciated by the deceased, you can choose the perfect pop-rock songs for funerals.
>>Creating a Celebration of Life
There are hundreds of pop-rock songs for a funeral and it can take some time to go through the many lists that are available. We’ve included the most popular selections below. Your best bet is to listen carefully to the words of the songs you are considering. Sometimes the lyrics aren’t quite what we remember them to be. If the deceased enjoyed listening to contemporary music you can get ideas on his or her favorites by looking through their personal collection. You can also get advice from friends and family.
Popular Pop Rock Songs Appropriate for Memorials and Funerals
>> See Creating a Celebration of Life
No list of pop-rock songs for funerals is complete without a selection of songs by the Beatles. Below are some of the classics which would be appropriate for a funeral. There may be more, these are among the most popular.
The Beatles/Paul McCartney/John Lennon/Ringo Starr | |
|---|---|
| All You Need Is Love | Little Willow |
| Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) | Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds |
| Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles) | Never Without You |
| Here Comes the Sun | The Long and Winding Road (Paul McCartney) |
| Hey, Jude | There are Places I’ll Remember |
| Imagine | With A Little Help From My Friends |
| In My Life | Yesterday |
Recent performances notwithstanding, Maria Carey is still one of the world’s most amazing vocalists. Because her songs evoke emotion and passion, they are popular choices for pop-rock songs for funerals.
Mariah Carey | |
|---|---|
| Butterfly | Never Too Far Away |
| Bye Bye | One Sweet Day |
| Hero | I’ll Be There |
| Never Forget You |
More Popular Pop Rock Songs for Funerals and Memorials | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A Day Without Rain, If I Could Be Where You Are, May It Be, Only Time Enya | Fly, My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion | Lean on Me Bill Withers | Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin |
| Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Diana Ross | Flying Without Wings Westlife | Life is Eternal Carly Simon | Stand by Me Ben E. King |
| Aloha ‘Oe, Ka Makani Ka’ili Aloha The Brothers Cazimero | For the Good Times, Loving Her Was Easier Kris Kristofferson | Longer Dan Fogelberg | Standing Right Next To Me Karla Bonoff |
| An Ending Brian Eno | Forever Young Rod Stewart | Look On Down From The Bridge Mazzy Star | Stop All The Clocks Nemo Shaw |
| And When I Die Blood, Sweat & Tears | Freebird Lynard Skynyrd | Many Rivers to Cross Jimmy Cliff | Summer Rain Brenda Carlisle |
| Angels in Waiting Tommy Cochrane | Goin’ Back Dusty Springfield | Missing You Brandy/Gladys Night | Take My Breath Away Berlin |
| As Long As I Can See The Light Creedence Clearwater Revival | Going Home Mary Fahl | Morning Bird The Sleepy Jackson | Talking to my Angel Melissa Etheridge |
| Baby Mine Bette Midler | Goodbye My Friend Linda Ronstadt | My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion | Thank You for Loving Me Bon Jovi |
| Back Home Again, When the River Meets the Sea John Denver | Goodbye My lover James Blunt | My Last Breath, My Immortal Evanescence | The Flame Cheap Trick |
| Bang the Drum Slowly Emmylou Harris | Goodnight My Angel, Lullabye, Only the Good Die Young, She’s Got a Way Billy Joel | Never Tear Us Apart INXS | The Last Waltz Engelbert Humperdink |
| Beautiful Day U2 | Have I Told You Lately Rod Stewart or Van Morrison | No One But You Queen | The Time of Your Life Green Day |
| Blessed, Funeral For A Friend, Candle in the Wind Elton John | Heaven Sent Cindy Marro | Nothing compares to you Sinead O’Connor | Three Times A Lady Lionel Richie |
| Blowin’ In The Wind, Every Grain of Sand, Knocking on Heaven’s Door Bob Dylan | He’s My Son Mark Schultz | Ode To My Family The Cranberries | Time to Say Goodbye Brightman & Bocelli |
| Borrowed Angels Kristin Chenoweth | Home Daughtry | Precious Child Karen Taylor | To Where You Are Josh Groban |
| Both Sides Now Judy Collins | Home Michael Buble | Really Gonna Miss You Smokey Robinson | Try Not To Breathe R.E.M. |
| Calling All Angels Grace Griffith | How Far is Heaven Los Lonely Boys | Remember Christmas Harry Nillson | Turn, Turn, Turn The Birds |
| Change The World Eric Clapton | I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash | Remembering You Steven Curtis Chapman | Unchained Melody Righteous Brothers |
| Child of Mine, So Far Away Carole King | I Feel Like Going Home Muddy Waters | Right Here Waiting Richard Marx | Until I see you again Wiz Kalifa |
| Close to You The Carpenters | I’ve Had The Time Of My Life Jennifer Warner and Bill Medley | Run to Paradise Choirboys | Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) Don McLean |
| Come on Up to the House Tom Waits | I’ll Be Missing You P. Diddy, Faith Evans | Sand and Water Beth Nielsen Chapman | Wayfaring Stranger Eva Cassidy |
| Come Sail Away Styx | I’ll Remember Madonna | Seasons in the Sun Terry Jacks | Where Have All the Flowers Gone Peter Paul & Mary |
| Death Letter Blues Son House | If I Fall Behind Bruce Springsteen | She’s Gone Daryl Hall & John Oates | Who Knew Pink |
| Deliver Me, Who Wants to Live Forever Sarah Brightman | In The Blink of An Eye Mercy Me | Shine Your Light Robbie Robertson | Wildflower Color Me Badd |
| End of the Line Travelling Wilburys | Into The Mystic Van Morrison | Simply the Best Tina Turner | Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd |
| Everything I Own, If Bread | Jealous of the Angels Jenn Bostic | Since I Lost You Genesis | Wishing You Were Here, You’re The Inspiration Chicago |
| Farewell my friend Dennis Wilson | Joy To The World Three Dog Night | So long Marianne Leonard Cohen | You Are So Beautiful To Me Joe Cocker |
| Father and Son, Morning Has Broken, Oh Very Young Cat Stevens | Keep Me in Your Heart Warren Zevon | Softly as I Leave You Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams | You Are The Sunshine of My Life Stevie Wonder |
| Fire and Rain, Fire and Rain, You Can Close Your Eyes James Taylor | Last Kiss Pearl Jam | Spirit in the Sky Norman Greenbaum | You’re Missing Bruce Springsteen |
As with any other music you select, you must follow copyright law when playing pop-rock songs for funerals and the rules for music that is piped in may be different than for that used in a slide show or video. Most funeral homes have arrangements with the top music licensing agencies and can legally provide you with music from the above lists, but be sure to talk with your funeral director to ensure that you can legally use the songs before making your final choices.
