James Blunt's Goodbye My Lover is the song most requested
at British funerals and remembrance services, closely followed by Robbie
Williams' Angels, according to a survey released today. Research for
the Bereavement Register found 51 per cent of people ask for a specific
song to be played at their funeral and 79 per cent talk with family
and friends about possible song choices.
The survey of 5000 people also uncovered some unusual final choices,
including I'll Steep When I Am Dead by Bon Jovi. "The top 20 really
shows how far we have come in terms of saying goodbye. Gone are the
dirges of yore, instead we are seeing contemporary music that is easier
to relate to," said Mark Roy, founder of the Bereavement Register.
' There have been some consistent favourites over recent years like
Wind Beneath My Wings at No. 4 and Candle In The Wind - a reworked version
of which played at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997-which was at No.
6.
Others in the top 20 included Knocking On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan
and, perhaps unexpectedly, I Want To Live Forever from the movie Fame.
The top 10 requested songs were:
1. Goodbye My
Lover - James Blunt
2. Angels - Robbie
Williams
3. I've
Had The Time Of My Life - Jennifer Wames and Bill Medley
4. Wind
Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
5. Pie Jesu - Requiem
6. Candle
In The Wind - Elton John
7. With
Or Without You - U2
8. Tears From Heaven - Eric Clapton
9. Every
Breath You Take - The Police
10. Unchained
Melody - Righteous Brothers
