Choosing Funeral Music
As people plan funerals at funeral homes in Syracuse, NY, one of the most important elements of the funeral is music. If you’re having a viewing or visitation, you may want a tribute video to your deceased loved one playing, and that will often include music.
The funeral service itself will have music included. Usually two or three songs are selected. Depending on the type of funeral service you have, these songs may be hymns that are sung by all the mourners, a solo live performance, or recorded music.
Often, there is also music included at the graveside service. If you are having a funeral with military honors for your loved one, “Taps” will be played. You may choose to have someone do an acapella solo or you may choose to have an instrumental solo.
As you’re selecting the music for your funeral service, you will definitely want to consider including songs that were favorites of your loved one or that have special memories of your loved one for you and your family. The only caution you should take is that the music doesn’t have language or lyrics that would be offensive to the mourners.
If you’re in a quandary about what songs you might want to include, here are a few suggestions that may help you decide or spur your memory for other songs to include. These songs encompass many genres, including blues, jazz, modern, traditional, country, classical, and rock, so there is something for everyone and every generation.
- “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
- “I’ll Be Seeing You” – Billie Holiday
- “Calling All Angels” – Train
- “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley
- “My Way” – Frank Sinatra
- “Awake My Soul” – Mumford & Sons
- “Freebird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
- “I Will Remember You” – Sarah McLachlan
- “In the Living Years” – Mike and the Mechanics
- “When I Get to Where I’m Going” – Brad Paisley
- “The Prayer” – Andrea Bocelli
- “Amazing Grace” – Various Artists
- “I’ll Fly Away” – Hezekiah Walker
- “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- “Go Rest High on That Mountain” – Vince Gill
- “In My Life” – The Beatles
- “Unforgettable” – Nat King Cole
- “Country Roads, Take Me Home” – John Denver
- “Seasons in the Sun” – Terry Jacks
- “Brothers in Arms” – Dire Straits
- “I Will Always Love You” – Dolly Parton
- “The Way We Were” Barbra Streisand
- “I’m Already There” – Lonestar
- “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” – Deathcab for Cutie
- “Don’t Dream It’s Over” – Crowded House
- “I’ll Be Missing You” – P. Diddy
- “Time in a Bottle” – Jim Croce
- “How to Save a Life” – The Fray
- “Moonlight Sonata” – Beethoven
- “Requiem Mass” – Mozart
- “Turn, Turn, Turn” – The Byrds
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
- “Funeral for a Friend” – Elton John
- “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
- “Fire and Rain” – James Taylor
- “Longer Than” – Dan Fogelberg
- “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” – Choir of Washington National Cathedral
- “Dancing in the Sky” – Dani and Lizzy
- “Soon and Very Soon” – Andrae Crouch
- “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
- “Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There” – Jennifer Hudson
- “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – Various Artists
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
- “Feels Like Home” – Chantal Kreviazuk
- “Everywhere” – Michelle Branch
- “Wherever You Will Go” – The Calling
- “One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
- “Ave Maria” – Schubert
For more information about funeral music at funeral homes in Syracuse, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help you.