The title of this post sounds a bit morbid, but I think you’ll like the concept nonetheless. Ryan’s latest gave me the idea for this.
Some of my friends know I have a playlist on my iPod called “Funeral.” It consists of the songs I imagine being played at, you guessed it, my funeral. Not that I’m planning on offing myself or dying anytime soon; it’s just something I tend to think about every now and then.
I fully admit: it’s very narcissistic on my part — I’m basically setting the soundtrack to my romanticized life. What’s weird about this is that I’m not really sentimental and I do not care at all what my funeral is like. I don’t care because, well, I’ll be dead.
Anyways, I’ve been tweaking this playlist off and on for quite awhile now. They’re not songs that contain hidden departing messages or anything weird like that. They’re just the tracks that have really resonated with me or that I’ve associated with pivotal times in my life.
All of the songs on my playlist are pretty evocative for me. You remember in that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine is dating a guy who stops and stares off into the distance every time he hears The Eagles’ “Desperado”? It’s not quite that bad, but it’s pretty close. Any and all of the songs can instantly put me in a different emotional state.
So before I give you my list, I want to ask: what would be on your funeral playlist? This list of songs is your attempt to sum yourself up as a person: what you’ve been through, how you feel, what you believe in, etc. It’s a fun exercise if you’re an egocentric person who’s into music, like myself.
Here’s my list (don’t pay attention to the videos if you click on the links):
- “Tangerine” – Led Zeppelin
- “Champagne Supernova” – Oasis
- “Landed” – Ben Folds
- “Everybody’s talkin” – Harry Nilsson
- “Turn on me” – The Shins
- “Time” – Pink Floyd
- “There is so much more” – Brett Dennen
- “Do you realize” – The Flaming Lips
- “Ocean” – John Butler
- “Just a ride” – Bill Hicks
Leave your list in the comments or ping this post from your blog. Bonus points if you link to your songs so everyone can hear them.
I haven’t even the foggiest idea of what songs I want to be played at my funeral, only that I want my funeral to be a party (of sorts), and celebration of my life. And I’ve asked my little sister to make sure that everyone wear’s pink.
By: ryanstephens on February 22, 2009
at 4:40 pm
I’d have to agree with that. No wearing black, that’s a definite. Although I’m not sure why you’d choose pink….
By: charhoehn@gmail.com on February 23, 2009
at 1:11 am
Can’t be f’d coming up with a list on the spot, but I’m reasonably impressed with yours. Especially the John Butler inclusion. How’d you come across his work? I didn’t know he was known outside of Australia :P
By: Andrew McMillen on February 25, 2009
at 5:46 am
I came across Butler when my friend sent me a link to that ‘Ocean’ video of him on youtube. If it weren’t for youtube, I’d have never known about him. But he’s actually pretty popular in Colorado (where I live). When he toured the States, Colorado was the only place he played two shows at.
By: charhoehn@gmail.com on February 25, 2009
at 1:19 pm
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