Legal and General analysed over 300,000 songs from funeral related playlists to uncover the most popular funeral tracks in 2021.
Research shows that the most popular song choice for funerals in 2021 is ‘Cigarette Daydreams’ by American rock band Cage the Elephant.
The second most popular funeral song is ‘See You Again’ by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. The emotional song was commissioned for the soundtrack of the 2015 film Furious 7 as a tribute to the actor Paul Walker and has been a popular choice at funerals since.
| 1 | Cigarette Daydreams | Cage the Elephant |
| 2 | See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth) | Wiz Khalifa |
| 3 | Mr Loverman | Ricky Montgomery |
| 4 | Supermarket Flowers | Ed Sheeran |
| 5 | I Can Only Imagine | MercyMe |
| 6 | Take Me Home, Country Roads – Rerecorded | John Denver |
| 7 | Creep | Radiohead |
| 8 | I’ll See You Again | Westlife |
| 9 | Spirit in the Sky | Norman Greenbaum |
| 10 | Where Is My Mind? | Pixies |
| 11 | Jealous | Labrinth |
| 12 | Super Bass | Nicki Minaj |
| 13 | Someone Like You | Adele |
| 14 | Hallelujah | Jeff Buckley |
| 15 | Never Gonna Give You Up | Rick Astley |
The Spotify data reveals that traditional hymns are no longer being regularly requested at funerals, with not even one featuring in the top 10 most popular list.
Choosing the right music can be the most appropriate way to personalise a funeral service. Legal and General have provided tips on how to choose funeral songs based on type and genre here.
For anyone struggling with how to approach the conversation regarding after life arrangements, Dr Lois Tonkin (lecturer, researcher and counsellor about loss and grief) said:
‘There’s never an easy time to talk with the people you love about what will happen if you become very ill, or how life will be for them after your death. However, when you die, it’s comforting for them to know your wishes for your funeral, and to be aware of your hopes for their lives in the future’.
She adds: ‘Timing is important and starting the conversation can be tricky. Choose a time when things are quiet. Sometimes settings where you don’t have to face one another can be useful; if you are up to it a walk or a long drive is often helpful. Remember, these are ongoing conversations, and you don’t have to get it all out at once.’
Legal & General Insurance Direct Managing Director Paula Llewellyn also commented:
‘It’s interesting to see that the people we spoke to had not only thought about their funeral songs, but they had a very definite idea of what funeral tracks they’d like people to hear. Curating a playlist for a loved one will always be difficult, but it provides the opportunity to remember them fondly as well as celebrate their life’
