10 Best Songs for Funeral Slideshows
To lose a loved one is a terrible experience. Sometimes, despite the sadness involved, a funeral or memorial service can be a time when friends and family gather to treasure the good memories and celebrate the life and the achievements of their beloved one. With memorial slideshows, we can commemorate our kin in a very moving and personal way. We can even plan our own memorial slideshow so that family and friends can remember us the way we prefer. The music we choose as songs for funeral slideshows can set the tone from love and comfort to humor.
The choice of music for a memorial slideshow is always individual, strictly depending on personal tastes and the story of the person celebrated, Here is a list of some of the best ten songs for a funeral slideshow.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What a Wonderful World (Israel Kamakawiwo’ole)
The first funeral slideshow song is the classic cover of two great songs, Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World. This song is a medley recorded in 1988 by Hawaiian artist Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.
We all know what the lyrics of these two classics are about: hope and the beauty of life and our world.
This minimalist version, which Iz Kamakawiwo’ole recorded with just his ukulele, gives comfort and solace. Its Hawaiian style is a great choice to commemorate a child or a sunny, happy person.
Here Comes The Sun (Nina Simone)
Originally written by George Harrison and published on the album Abbey Road (1969), Here Comes The Sun was also successfully recorded by Nina Simone and used as the title track to a 1971 covers album. This beautiful song for a memorial slideshow is about a feeling of relief, as the songwriter sees the sun out again after a long, cold, lonely winter.
In the Nina Simone version, the sun becomes the metaphor for a newfound Freedom and, while the lyrics keep suggesting relief and hope, its melancholic piano arrangement is somewhat comforting and reassuring, making it a great funeral slideshow song.
It can also have a powerful symbolism, especially when death is seen as a sort of liberation, perhaps after a lot of suffering.
Angel (Jimi Hendrix)
If you want to commemorate a spouse or someone you deeply loved, this incredibly sweet song by Tracy Chapman is a perfect option. This song has a sweet, folk sound.
The lyrics suggest a forced separation, but also the desire to meet again sometime, somewhere.
The acoustic arrangement, enriched by a melancholic violin, delivers powerful emotions, making it a great song for a funeral slideshow.
Sand and Water (Beth Nielsen Chapman)
Country singer and songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman released the album Sand and Water in 1997, after her husband’s death. The horrible experience of losing her other half over cancer led to a beautiful record that explores the theme of grief.
The title track is a perfect choice of music for a memorial slideshow, especially if you are commemorating someone who was very close to you, such as a spouse or a member of your family.
Follow the Sun (Xavier Rudd)
This song is a simple invocation towards hope. It is an invitation to overcome the difficulties of today as tomorrow is a new day for everyone.
Its warm and hopeful lyrics make it the best choice to commemorate someone you cared for.
Its message of hope will also convey a feeling of strength and togetherness that can temporarily mend broken hearts.
Dies Irie (Ahn Trio)
Classical music lovers will appreciate this sweet instrumental track by Ahn Trio, able to deliver great emotions through simple strings and piano arrangements.
This lullaby communicates feelings of love and affection, but it is also deeply relaxing and soothing.
It could be one of the best choices for funeral slideshow songs.
Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton)
When legendary songwriter and guitarist Eric Clapton was asked to compose the soundtrack to the movie Rush, he was dealing with the grief over the loss of his four-year-old son Conor, fallen from a 53rd-floor window in New York City. This gig gave him the opportunity to artistically process his loss, donating to his audience an incredible song about the relationship between life and death.
In the song, the griever tries to make contact with the departed loved one, but then he bitterly realizes he does not belong here in Heaven.It is a very sad but beautiful song and a great choice to commemorate a spouse, family member or friend.
Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan)
Picture the scene from Pat Garret and Billy The Kid this song was written for: a man dying at sunset, in a beautiful landscape setting.
This legendary song by Bob Dylan naturally evokes thoughts on death, in both a melancholic and peaceful way. In the lyrics the person about to die speaks in the first person, letting his mother know he’s aware of his destiny. He knows that he’ll be knocking on Heaven’s door, perhaps with the hope of being welcomed there.
Among songs for funeral slideshows, this is possibly the number one choice.
Pictures of You (The Cure)
This heart-breaking rock song evokes feelings of loving and missing.
Robert Smith took the inspiration to write it after a fire broke into his house, destroying most of his photographs, except a very few of his wife Mary. The narrative of the lyrics conveys a story in which someone remembers a loved one gone forever, having only a picture of him/her as a last point of contact.
Because of the story suggested by the lyrics and its soothing sound, even in a gothic rock song, it is an excellent choice when looking for music for a funeral slideshow. This is especially true when commemorating a spouse, a sibling or a good friend.
These ten songs are all lovely choices for a funeral slideshow. When preparing the slideshow, it is important to choose songs that are uplifting or particularly connected to the story of the person you are going to commemorate.
All these compositions convey powerful feelings, somewhat cathartic.
What about you? Let us know which songs you would use for a perfect funeral slideshow.
For more funeral songs, please use our searchable database of over 400 funeral hymns and memorial songs.
