Always Look on the Bright Side of Life has dropped out of the top 10 most popular songs to be played at funerals, while the Queen’s service has been credited for hymns growing in popularity.
The number from the Monty Python’s Life of Brian has been displaced as hymns All Things Bright and Beautiful, and Abide With Me have entered the chart. Although none of the Queen’s choices were in the top 10, they did pave the way for other, more traditional numbers to feature in funerals.
The annual top 10 was revealed by Co-op Funeralcare on Tuesday using data from 93,000 services in the past year.
Italian composer Francesco Sartori’s number Time to Say Goodbye, sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, was number one. Frank Sinatra’s My Way was second, with Ed Sheeran’s Supermarket Flowers in third.
The two hymns that featured at the Queen’s funeral were The Lord’s My Shepherd and The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended.
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers, a song with close association to Liverpool Football Club, was the number one in 2022. It is number seven this time.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life dropped right out of the top 10, but is still included on the list of most popular theme tunes requested at funerals.
Gill Stewart, the managing director at Co-op Funeralcare, said: “Each element of a funeral is a very personal choice and we’re encouraging the nation to be more open about their funeral wishes.
“Music plays such a big part in all of our lives, so it’s no surprise that our favourite songs play a role in the way we say goodbye, too.
“The songs we choose for a funeral all hold unique and personal meaning for ourselves and loved ones but naturally some songs remain more popular than others and we’re delighted to unveil this year’s music chart.”
The full top 10, as revealed by the Co-Operative on Tuesday
- Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli — Time to Say Goodbye
- Frank Sinatra — My Way
- Ed Sheeran — Supermarket Flowers
- Bette Midler — Wind Beneath My Wings
- Vera Lynn — We’ll Meet Again
- Eva Cassidy — Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- Gerry and the Pacemakers — You’ll Never Walk Alone
- Cecil Frances Alexander and William Henry Monk — All Things Bright and Beautiful
- Henry Francis Lyte and William Henry Monk — Abide With Me
- Danni and Lizzy — Dancing in the Sky
