Music can play a big role in both a funeral service and a memorial video or funeral slideshow. The right music can evoke feelings and emotions, help the audience remember their loved one, and even assist in moving through grief. Ultimately, music can create a powerful connection.
We’ll help you pick the right songs for a funeral slideshow and understand how to play the music without violating copyright laws.
Why Focus on Background Music for Funerals?
Families have so much to do when a loved one passes. From notifying friends to reading the will, it’s easy to let small details slide. However, music plays a crucial role in helping people to process their feelings and move forward.
In a 2020 study, researchers interviewed 12 families about the music choices they made for a loved one’s funeral. They found that music could trigger positive memories of the loved one, while drawing survivors together in their grief. The researchers also said that selecting music made survivors feel more hopeful.
So what music should you choose? Hopeful songs like ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra could remind people of the willpower of a strong person who passed away after a life of interesting choices. Sad songs like ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton could help the community express their grief. And religious songs like ‘How Great Thou Art’ by Carrie Underwood could help people connect to the spiritual realm.
There’s no wrong song for a funeral — as long as it doesn’t offend guests. Songs that reflect the person you’ve lost and bring you comfort are always welcome.
Understanding Copyright Laws
When choosing music for a memorial or funeral slideshow, you will need to make sure you have legal permission to use it.
Copyright is a collection of rights held by the person who wrote the song, the company that recorded the music, or both. It is designed to reward content creators for their hard work and can come with penalties for those who violate their rights.
If you play songs at a funeral service, or you pop music into a video you post online, you are technically creating a public performance of music. If you don’t have permission to use that music, the copyright holder could sue you for relief.
You could use royalty-free or copyright-free music for a funeral slideshow, but these songs are typically very old or not recognizable. If you want to play current tunes (including those we’ll list below), you need a relationship with a music provider that can provide you with the music you want to play for a reasonable fee you can afford. Other options include the following:
These are a few common questions and answers people ask about the legality of background music for funerals:
- Can I play songs from CDs or records? Not without permission. CDs, records, and digital downloads are typically designed for personal (not public) use. If you play them at a funeral without permission, you could be violating copyright rules.
- Don’t funeral directors handle copyright issues? Sometimes. Ask your funeral director, pastor, or priest about copyright and the songs you want to play.
- Can I play from a digital library like Spotify? Read your user agreement first. If you’ve signed a contract as an individual, you could be violating the terms by playing the songs publicly (as you will during a funeral).
- What if I hire someone to play the songs? You’ll still need permission. Copyright protections extend to the composition — not just the recording — of the song.
The Most Popular Funeral Songs
Funeral songs are often personal and chosen based on the preference of the family or as part of an individual’s last wishes. Typically, about three to five songs might be played during a funeral service.
These are five of the most popular funeral songs:
- ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra
- ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ by Bette Midler
- ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- ‘Ave Maria’ by Franz Schubert
- ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
How to Choose Background Music for Funerals: A Step-by-Step Guide
With a little time and planning, you can choose the perfect music for a loved one’s funeral. Here’s how to do it.
Search Their Playlists
Most people have a favorite song. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, 86% of people listen to their favorite song at least a few times every week.
Think about the songs the person has played often or talked about repeatedly. If you can’t think of a favorite song, dig through the person’s CDs, records, or Pandora playlists for examples of songs played often.
Remember the Cause of Death
The way the person died can have a deep impact on how people feel during the funeral. A ceremony for a child who died after an accident is very different from one for a 95-year-old person who had an expected death after a long illness.
Read articles (like this one) for songs that might be appropriate for people of different ages and causes of death.
Ask for Help
Once you’ve considered the person’s favorite songs and selected a few additional appropriate tunes, put them into a spreadsheet. Include the name of the song, the artist, and the length of the song. Send your list to several family members, and ask for their input.
Then, ask your priest or funeral director for instructions. How many songs should you choose? At what point will each song play? How long can the songs be?
Make Final Selections
Choose music from your spreadsheet and share it with the team operating the sound at the funeral. Ensure that the team has all of the songs you want, including the appropriate take (live or in the studio).
You may have songs you love that didn’t make it into the service. Consider playing these tunes at the funeral reception. You’re still sharing music that’s meaningful to you and the person you loved, even if it’s not part of your official memorial presentation.
What Songs Work as Background Music for Funerals?
Many different types of songs are available, and they are all good choices for the funeral you’re planning. These are a few selections, organized by genre and mood.
Upbeat songs:
- ‘Soul Limbo’ by Booker T. & the MG’s
- ‘What a Wonderful World‘ by Louis Armstrong
- ‘Bring Me Sunshine by Morecambe and Wise
- ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie
- ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin
- ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ by Stevie Wonder
- ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ by Morecambe and Wise
- ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ by Monty Python’s Life of Brian
- ‘I’m Gonna Live Until I Die’ by Frank Sinatra
- ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ by Ben Selvin and the Crooners
Solemn songs:
- ‘Song for Dad’ by Keith Urban
- ‘Fathers and Daughters (Never Say Goodbye)’ by Michael Bolton
- ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ by Billie Holiday
- ‘Supermarket Flowers’ by Ed Sheeran
- ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton
- ‘In the Arms of an Angel’ by Sarah McLachlan
- ‘10,000 Miles’ by Mary Chaplin Carpenter
- ‘Dance With My Father’ by Luther Vandross
Popular songs:
- ‘See You Again’ by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
- ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay
- ‘Beautiful People’ by Ed Sheeran
- ‘Holocene’ by Bon Iver
- ‘Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri
- ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ by Coldplay
Traditional songs:
- ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by Simon and Garfunkel
- ‘Funeral March’ by Chopin
- ‘How Great Thou Art’ by Carrie Underwood
- ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ by Elvis Presly
- ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ by B.B. King
- ‘When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder’ by Dolly Parton
- ‘I’ll Fly Away’ by Johnny Cash
- ‘The Water Is Wide‘ by Peter Hollins
- ‘Victory in Jesus’ by Merle Haggard
- ‘In the Garden’ by Selah
Spiritual songs:
- ‘Amazing Grace‘ by John Newton
- ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley
- ‘I Can Only Imagine’ by MercyMe
- ‘You Raise Me Up’ by Josh Groban
- ‘God Is Love’ by Marvin Gaye
- ‘The Day Is Past and Gone‘ by Aretha Franklin
- ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow’ by Gladys Knight
- ‘Sweetest Name I Know’ by Kirk Franklin
- ‘Walk Around Heaven’ by Patti LaBelle
- ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’ by Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Classical songs:
- ‘Canon in D’ by Pachelbel
- ‘Air on a G String’ by Bach
- ‘Adagio for Strings’ by Barber
- 'Come, Sweet Death’ by Bach
- ‘Islands in the Sky’ by Geoff Harvey
- ‘Moonlight Sonata’ by Beethoven
- ‘Blue in Green’ by Miles Davis
- ‘Edge of Darkness’ by Eric Clapton
- ‘Your Hand in Mine’ by Explosions in the Sky
- ‘Last Train Home’ by Pat Metheny
Song Selection by Relationship
Sometimes, the right songs for a funeral slideshow depend on the type of relationship between the person who prepared the presentation and the person who passed away. Consider using these songs along with images of the person who held that relationship. For example, use love songs with photos of the deceased and his/her spouse or songs about parenting with pictures of a parent and child.
These are good selections to consider based on relationships.
Parent & Grandparent:
- ‘Sentimental Journey’ by Doris Day
- ‘Live Like You Were Dying’ by Tim McGraw
- ‘Somebody’s Hero’ by Jamie O’Neal
- ‘You Can’t Lose Me’ by Faith Hill
Young Person or Child:
- ‘Fly’ by Celine Dion
- ‘If I Die Young’ by The Band Perry
- ‘Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)’ by Billy Joel
- ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ by Phil Collins
- ‘Beautiful Boy’ by John Lennon
- ‘Streets of Heaven’ by Sherrié Austin
- ‘A Mother’s Prayer’ by K. Michelle
- ‘Forever Young’ by Rod Stewart
Friend:
- ‘See You Again’ by Wiz Khalifa
- ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ by Diddy, Faith Evans, and 112
- ‘Fire and Rain’ by James Taylor
- ‘Life Without You’ by Stevie Ray Vaughn
- ‘You Should Be Here’ by Cole Swindell
- ‘Gone Too Soon’ by Michael Jackson
- ‘I’ll Remember You’ by Thea Gilmore
- ‘Never Get Over You’ by Miranda Lambert
- ‘Who You’d Be Today’ by Kenny Chesney
- ‘A Long December’ by Counting Crows
Spouse or romantic partner:
- ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion
- ‘Lay Me Down’ by Sam Smith
- ‘How Long Will I Love You’ by Ellie Goulding
- ‘One Sweet Day’ by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
- ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston
- ‘Together Again‘ by Janet Jackson
- ‘If Only I Had Known’ by Reba McEntire
- ‘You’re the First, the Last, My Everything’ by Barry White
- ‘Angels‘ by Robbie Williams
- ‘Take My Breath Away’ by Berlin
Songs for a Memorial Video by Genre
Sometimes, the person who is being remembered loved a particular genre of music, and this is the genre you want to use in the memorial video. Thankfully, there are good memorial songs in virtually every genre.
Rock
- ‘Freebird’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ by Bob Dylan
- ‘When September Ends’ by Green Day
- ‘Only the Good Die Young’ by Billy Joel
- ‘Fields of Gold’ by Sting
Country
- ‘Country Roads’ by John Denver
- ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ by Bill Withers
- ‘Can’t Let Go’ by Anthony Hamilton
- ‘When I Get Where I’m Going’ by Brad Paisley
- ‘There You’ll Be’ by Faith Hill
Musicals
- ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ by Fiddler on the Roof
- ‘Time Heals Everything‘ by Mack and Mabel
- ‘Not a Day Goes By’ by Merrily We Roll Along
- ‘This Was Nearly Mine’ by South Pacific
- ‘Memories’ by Cats
Alternative
- ‘Wish You Were Here’ by Pink Floyd
- ‘Calling All Angels’ by Jane Siberry and K.D. Lang
- ‘Heaven Laughs’ by the Hooters
- ‘Slipped Away’ by Avril Lavigne
- ‘Pictures of You’ by the Cure
References
Get Royalty Free Music and SFX for Your Videos. Artlist.
Funeral. (2022). Pond5, Inc.
Discover New Music to Supercharge Your Content. Epidemic Sound.
Everything You Need to Get Creative Projects Done. (2022). Envato Pty, Ltd.
Quality Music for Creators. (2022). Shutterstock Canada, ULC.
Melody Loops. (2022). Melody Loops, LP.
What Is Copyright? Copyright.gov.
Music as Consolation: The Importance of Music at Farewells and Mourning. (July 2020). OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying.
Why You Never Get Sick of Listening to Your Favorite Song. (February 2018). World Economic Forum.