Celtic fans' favourite melody ‘ You’ll Never Walk Alone ’ has hit the top spot in Co-op Funeralcare’s annual music chart of most popular farewell songs.
And the hit song by Gerry and the Pacemaker's has knocked perennial favourite, Frank Sinatra’s ‘ My Way ,’ from the number one position, with data revealing it has been played at an estimated 9500 funerals over the past year.
The song, which spent four weeks at number one in 1963, captured the nation’s COVID-stricken heart last April when it was covered by Michael Ball, Sir Captain Tom Moore and the NHS Voices of Care Choir last April to raise money for charity.
The evocative anthem is also famously the team song for both Liverpool and Celtic FC meaning its appeal spans the generations.
In another shift, Tina Turner’s feelgood hit, and Rangers fans' favourite, ‘ Simply the Best ’ has entered the chart at number four.
Meanwhile, The Greatest Showman’s rousing theatrical showstopper ‘ This Is Me ’ enters the chart for the first time at number 10.
Among the more controversial requests received by Co-op Funeralcare colleagues, with parlours across Lanarkshire including Hamilton, Bellshill, Blantyre, Uddingston, Motherwell and East Kilbride are ‘Girl on Fire’ by Alicia Keys, ‘Ha Ha You’re Dead’ by Green Day, and ‘Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead’ from The Wizard of Oz.
Other popular requests are Dirty Dancing’s ‘(I’ve had) The Time of My Life’ and Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ .
Pauline McAvoy, funeral service manager at Co-op Funeralcare, told Lanarkshire Live : "You'll Never Walk Alone really has been a stand-out song over the last year.
"It's sentiments around weathering the storm of life by coming together and supporting one another have really struck a chord with so many after the extraordinary events of the last 18 months.
"It's a beautiful melody which carries such deep meaning."
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