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The Guardian - UK

Business

The Co-operative

Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life tops the funeral charts

Performances by singers and musicians remain popular at funerals. The most common requests (after organists) are for pipers or bagpipes in Scotland and male voice choirs in Wales. Photograph: The Co-operative

Funerals are marching to a different tune as Brits “look on the bright side of life” and pick music from personal playlists when the curtain closes and it’s time to say goodbye, new research from The Co-operative Funeralcare reveals today.

For the first time in over a decade, Frank Sinatra’s My Way has been toppled from the top by Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - the comedy troupe that said farewell themselves this year after a series of reunion concerts. Only Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings has achieved this feat before in 2002. The most popular group is Queen with nine tracks requested including Who Wants to Live Forever and Don’t Stop Me Now. Elvis Presley is the most requested solo singer.

The research, carried out by the UK’s largest funeral director, is based on over 30,000 funerals and charts the tunes of choice being played at services to celebrate and remember the lives of loved ones.

Data shows that humour, anthems from the football terraces, film and TV scores as well as poignant pop songs make up 60% of the ten most popular choices and are ahead of many traditional hymns and classical compositions.

Technology is bringing about another significant change with almost one in five funeral homes highlighting the use of original music either penned by or performed by the deceased.

More than 84% of funeral directors say that hymns or classics are declining in popularity quicker than any other music or performance type. The most requested hymn is The Lord is My Shepherd, followed by Abide with Me. The most popular classical piece remains Elgar’s Enigma Variations (Nimrod).

David Collingwood, operations director at the Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “We think we may be seeing a generational shift in attitudes towards funerals, and the choice of music being requested. Music plays such an important part in people’s lives and now acts as the theme tune to their passing. Modern funerals are very much about personal choice, which can be reflected in the choice of music, dress, coffin, flowers, hearses or memorials.”

“We provide families with a wide range of options to help them plan and create a fitting tribute, and to ensure that final wishes are fulfilled. We will accommodate any individual request no matter how unusual, providing it is legal and decent. Lyrics provide poignant words as well as a reminder of a hobby, pastime or sense of humour. The variety of songs played at funerals today illustrates how more and more people are choosing to personalise funerals and celebrate their loved one’s life with a fitting farewell.”

Fewer songs are also being refused on the grounds of taste. In 2012 one in four funeral homes reported a declined music request while the figure has now dropped to 16% nationwide, with Scottish funeral homes refusing only one in ten.

TV talent show winners have fared their best ever with Susan Boyle, One Direction and Sam Bailey all featuring in the lower reaches of the charts. Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, and Lily Allen’s Christmas hit Somewhere Only We Know both appear for the first time. Ever present songs include Robbie Williams’ Angels at number two, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bochelli’s Time to Say Goodbye at number three and Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On at number 13.

The football league of mourners playing their club’s music at a funeral is topped by You’ll Never Walk Alone (adopted by fans of Liverpool and Celtic football clubs), followed by Simply The Best (for Rangers football club), I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles (for West Ham United) and Blue Moon (for Manchester City).

While Frank Sinatra still tops the pop, rock and golden oldies genre, notable new entries in this top 20 include Ellie Goulding - her first appearance since breaking through in 2010 - with How Long Will I Love You (12), and Sarah McLachlan with Angel (10).

Artists with most tracks requested include Queen (with nine), Elvis Presley (6), Eva Cassidy (4) and Westlife (4). Performers with two or more tracks listed are Coldplay (Fix You, Paradise), Adele (Someone Like You, Make You Feel My Love), Pink Floyd (Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Another Brick in the Wall) and Snow Patrol (Run, Chasing Cars) alongside more traditional numbers by Vera Lynn, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole (each with three tracks).

The top TV Soap theme is Coronation Street, while music from Downton Abbey and Strictly Come Dancing appears for the first time.

Charts and Other Key Findings

Songs refused on the grounds of taste or inappropriate lyrics include: Imagine, John Lennon; My Way, Frank Sinatra; Bat out of Hell, Meat Loaf; various Black Sabbath tracks; Eminem; Another One Bites the Dust, Queen; Relax, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and God Save the Queen by The Sex Pistols

Performances by singers and musicians (other than organists) remain popular: the most common requests are for pipers or bagpipes in Scotland (25%), and male voice choirs in Wales (33%).

Around a third of funeral homes have received unusual or quirky requests, including mourners asking to wear fancy dress with themes such as Abba, the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Blues Brothers Star Wars, One Direction, football strips and guitar shaped floral tributes.

Overall Chart

1. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Eric Idle from Monty Python’s 1983 film The Meaning of Life

2. The Lord is My Shepherd - Psalm 23/Crimond, Traditional

3. Abide with Me - Traditional

4. Match of the Day theme

5. My Way - Frank Sinatra

6. All Things Bright and Beautiful - Traditional

7. Robbie Williams - Angels

8. Enigma Variations (Nimrod) - Elgar

9. You’ll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers

10. Cricket Theme / Soul Limbo - Booker T. & the MG’s (test match TV theme)

11. Canon in D - Pachelbel

12. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion (love theme from Titanic )

13= Last of the Summer Wine (theme tune)

13= Only Fools and Horses (theme tune)

14. Time to Say Goodbye - Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bochelli

15. Four Seasons - Vivaldi

16. Ava Maria - Schubert

17. Coronation Street (TV theme tune)

18 = You Raise Me Up - Westlife

18 = Over the Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

19. World in Union (Rugby Theme) - Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and other versions

20= Nessun Dorma- Puccini

20= Adagio - Bizet/Albinoni

Classical

Nimrod has remained the most popular classical piece over the last decade. In Wales, Katherine Jenkins’ Time to Say Goodbye is the most popular classical piece

1. Enigma Variations (Nimrod) - Elgar

2. Canon in D - Pachelbel

3. Time to Say Goodbye - Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bochelli / Katherine Jenkins

4. Four Seasons - Vivaldi

5. Ave Maria - Schubert

6 = Nessun Dorma - Puccini

6= Adagio - Bizet/Albinoni

7. Pie Jesu - Faure

8. Air on a G String - Bach

9. Clair De Lune - Claude De Bussy

10. Cavalleria Rusticanna - Intermezzo Mascagni