Music for your funeral
- Otis Westinghouse
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Music for your funeral
Apologies if this seems in poor taste to anyone, but I was at a friend's funeral last year and some great music was played, and music in such moments can be at its most intensely powerful. The selection was:
John Martyn - Sweet Little Mystery
Bob Dylan - Forever Young (sung live in the chapel)
Van Morrison - Spirit (from the less well known Common One, amazing)
Iris DeMent - When My Morning Comes Around
I'd never considered what I might have before this, and find myself wondering every now and again. I'd have to have Joy Division's Atmosphere, something by Bach (e.g. from a cello suite) or Beethoven (string quartet, probably), and I'd want to end with The Parting Glass, I think. Can't see any Elvis being right for the moment (unless it was him doing the latter).
What would you have for this moment which is all about you but which you aren't (physically) present to experience?
John Martyn - Sweet Little Mystery
Bob Dylan - Forever Young (sung live in the chapel)
Van Morrison - Spirit (from the less well known Common One, amazing)
Iris DeMent - When My Morning Comes Around
I'd never considered what I might have before this, and find myself wondering every now and again. I'd have to have Joy Division's Atmosphere, something by Bach (e.g. from a cello suite) or Beethoven (string quartet, probably), and I'd want to end with The Parting Glass, I think. Can't see any Elvis being right for the moment (unless it was him doing the latter).
What would you have for this moment which is all about you but which you aren't (physically) present to experience?
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
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- Otis Westinghouse
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Ha Ha You're Dead - Green Day
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Just kidding ...
How about Louis Armstrong singing What A Beautiful World ?
Or maybe Silver & Gold by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, just to remind all mourners how important it is to "seize the day".
I can't resist to paste the lyrics of this song here as it's truly heartbreaking in the context of Joe's death a couple of months after this recording.
Silver And Gold
I'm gonna go out dancin' every night
I'm gonna see all the city lights
I'll do everything silver and gold
I got to hurry up before I grow too old
I'm gonna take a trip around the world
I'm gonna kiss all the pretty girls
I'll do everything silver and gold
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
Oh I do a lotta things I know is wrong
Hope I'm forgiven before I'm gone
It'll take a lotta prayers to save my soul
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
I'm gonna take a trip around the world
Gonna kiss all the pretty girls
Who do everything silver and gold
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
I'm gonna go out dancin' every night
I'm gonna see all your city lights
I'm gonna do everything silver and gold
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Just kidding ...
How about Louis Armstrong singing What A Beautiful World ?
Or maybe Silver & Gold by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, just to remind all mourners how important it is to "seize the day".
I can't resist to paste the lyrics of this song here as it's truly heartbreaking in the context of Joe's death a couple of months after this recording.
Silver And Gold
I'm gonna go out dancin' every night
I'm gonna see all the city lights
I'll do everything silver and gold
I got to hurry up before I grow too old
I'm gonna take a trip around the world
I'm gonna kiss all the pretty girls
I'll do everything silver and gold
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
Oh I do a lotta things I know is wrong
Hope I'm forgiven before I'm gone
It'll take a lotta prayers to save my soul
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
I'm gonna take a trip around the world
Gonna kiss all the pretty girls
Who do everything silver and gold
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
I'm gonna go out dancin' every night
I'm gonna see all your city lights
I'm gonna do everything silver and gold
And I got to hurry up before I grow too old
If you don't know what is wrong with me
Then you don't know what you've missed
Then you don't know what you've missed
- so lacklustre
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- crash8_durham
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- stormwarning
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To me, your funeral is pretty much your last shot at forcing everyone you know to FINALLY listen to some good music. So, I've considered...
PL&U (except that it's starting to become a cliche selection...might have to switch this something really original, yet also making a similar spiritual/political point. Like...er..."Imagine"...?)
"I Get a Kick out of You" -- probably the Ella Fitz version (it's definitely gotta be a female, so people can appreciate the full wonder of the line "flying too high with some guy in the sky is my idea of nothing to do" as opposed to the far less cool "flying too high with some gal in the sky")
"Where or When" -- recorded by just about anyone...
"Instant Karma" -- Because it's great, and it's true (metaphorically, anyhow), and it's Phil Specter, too.
PL&U (except that it's starting to become a cliche selection...might have to switch this something really original, yet also making a similar spiritual/political point. Like...er..."Imagine"...?)
"I Get a Kick out of You" -- probably the Ella Fitz version (it's definitely gotta be a female, so people can appreciate the full wonder of the line "flying too high with some guy in the sky is my idea of nothing to do" as opposed to the far less cool "flying too high with some gal in the sky")
"Where or When" -- recorded by just about anyone...
"Instant Karma" -- Because it's great, and it's true (metaphorically, anyhow), and it's Phil Specter, too.
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
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- King Hoarse
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- crash8_durham
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- so lacklustre
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- King Hoarse
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- oily slick
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there is a graveyard in key west that sports several funny markers and there is one that has just that or perhaps i told "them" i was sick on it.
i always forget all the good ideas i have about the post-me celebration, but if mrs slick bought it, i think i'd play elvis' version of "Days".
i always forget all the good ideas i have about the post-me celebration, but if mrs slick bought it, i think i'd play elvis' version of "Days".
I'm not concerned about the very poor.
- Mr. Average
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I doubt if anyone will know this, but it is already scheduled...
"The Truth Will Always Be" - Pat Metheny, from the great album entitled "Secret Story"
This is a powerful song that starts out somber and melancholy but blossoms into a soaring, arching, triumphant instrumental that transitions the listener from quiet introspection to hopeful, even exhilarating, thoughts.
At least that what it does for me...
The song is long, so it is a bit of investment, but well worth it.
"The Truth Will Always Be" - Pat Metheny, from the great album entitled "Secret Story"
This is a powerful song that starts out somber and melancholy but blossoms into a soaring, arching, triumphant instrumental that transitions the listener from quiet introspection to hopeful, even exhilarating, thoughts.
At least that what it does for me...
The song is long, so it is a bit of investment, but well worth it.
"The smarter mysteries are hidden in the light" - Jean Giono (1895-1970)