Musical Theatre Funeral Songs

[PeteGonBway]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:53am

Any suggestions on Musical Theatre songs that would be suitable to sing at a funeral? (Besides "Memory"... it's been done)

[RyToast1]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:54am

i've always thought "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" would be perfect!

[jv92]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:58am

How Glory Goes, hands down.

I'm not being mean or anything, but don't do For Good. Just don't. It's really, really cheesy. How Glory Goes is simple and honest. It's also difficult to sing, so if you want to do something easy it might be a bad choice.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 11:58am

good choice
I also like a medley of "It Must Be So" from Candide and "If I Never Knew You" from the film Pocahontas (not a fan of the film, but the song is gorgeous.)

[RyToast1]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:10pm

After consulting co-workers, we've also come up with "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables."

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:13pm

That song can come across as so whiny, though. (I think it was how I heard it.) How about "Your Eyes" from Rent (stay away from "Seasons of Love"-too overdone.)

[Bruce Memblagh!]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:14pm

Till we reach that day - ragtime

I'll cover you - rent

Ding dong the witch is dead - wizard of oz

Empty chairs at empty tables - Les miz

[fakemyway2thetop]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:18pm

"How Could I Ever Know" from Secret Garden

[K8eeyore]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:26pm

No One is Alone from INTO THE WOODS

I had a friend who requested they play Let's Go Fly a Kite from MARY POPPINS (I think). As a kind of celebration of life, it was very appropriate, although now I can't hear the song without crying.

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:28pm

It is going to be an emotional time anyway at a funeral so if songs are arguably over-done it hardly matters. Besides, there will be many people there who perhaps are not "au fait" with show songs so that they would not be overdone to them.

People aren't going there to be entertained; as long as it is spirit of the person who has died or, if a partner is left behind and has songs he/she feels has a special connection to the deceased.


"Somewhere", West Side Story

"Song of the Sand", La cage

"You are the starlight" St Exp

"Wishing you were somehow here again", Phantom

"No one is alone", Into the Woods

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:31pm

I always think of They Can't Take That Away From Me, from Crazy For You...

[JUwon127]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:35pm

You Walk With Me - The Full Monty

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:36pm

Most of the songs offered here are in pretty bad taste and I would be mortified if I heard them at a funeral.

Try "You walk with me" from The Full Monty, its the only tasteful song I can think of for this kind of occasion.

I would also consider some truly truly lovely hymns and songs of praise that are pretty religiously inconspicuous, but also truly beautiful.

Updated On: 8/14/07 at 12:36 PM

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:38pm

Bad taste? I can only see one song that is in bad taste and I think that is a joke.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:40pm

Haha, only ONE in bad taste? Which do you think that would be?

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:42pm

lol.

Seriously though, the other songs are not in poor taste in the slightest. If a song truly means something relevant to the person.....

[Parsley]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:47pm

I agree showlad. A song that might not be what we would want might well be what is wanted for the people concerned.

I would HATE to have an hymn or song of praise which, by their definition, would have religious connections. That would be deeply offensive to me.

I think most of the songs listed so far would be entirely appropriate depending on the situation of whoever is concerned.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:50pm

"Ding dong the witch is dead - wizard of oz"

You're kidding me, right?

This must be the "bad taste" song.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:53pm

Going through a situation and made a playlist of a few songs, not sure if any of these help:
"Time Heals Everything"-MACK & MABEL
"You Have to Be There"-KRISTINA
"No One Is Alone"-INTO THE WOODS
"With So Little To Be Sure Of"-ANYONE CAN WHISTLE
"One More Kiss"-FOLLIES
"People"-FUNNY GIRL
"Move On"-SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
"You'll Never Walk Alone"-CAROUSEL
"In Whatever Time We Have"-CHILDREN OF EDEN
"Not a Day Goes By"-MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
"Will You?"-GREY GARDENS

[Act4ever]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:54pm

I think a song like "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" might be a little too "in your face" and emotional. Something like "How Glory Goes," or "Song on the Sand" I think it a bit subtler and maybe just a better choice.

"In Whatever Time We Have" and "No one Is Alone" - also good choices - in my opinion. Updated On: 8/14/07 at 12:54 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:04pm

Exactly, subtlety is what is called for in this situation and a song like "Wishing you were somehow here again" is totally inappropriate.

Also, as far as being offended by praise songs or hymns, get over yourself, while you may not be religious, some of that music is beautiful, a great deal actually, because it's well-written, and to dismiss it simply because of its religious connection is just plain stupid.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:06pm

Some Things Are Meant to Be from Little Women

[Parsley]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:08pm

I am not sure subtlety comes into a funeral. As has been said, if it is in keeping with the person that has dies then so be it. Also all of the songs are going to be emotional. Even a really upbeat number is going to be emotional if it says something about the person who died and the funeral goers acknowledge that.

Either way it is going to be a tough time for those involved and I think almost any song will suit ((just don't have some out of tune little kid singing them badly at the front and ruining the whole thing. I have been to funerals what that has been the case - as if the funeral is there to promote the neice or nephew or whosever the kid happened to belong to.))

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:09pm

Love Who you Love from A Man of No Importance

[Parsley]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:10pm

"Also, as far as being offended by praise songs or hymns, get over yourself, while you may not be religious, some of that music is beautiful, a great deal actually, because it's well-written, and to dismiss it simply because of its religious connection is just plain stupid"

Actually no; if the deceased is not religious in the slightest I can think of little more offensive than having religious songs. And my post, although it could have been clearer, was referring to me, if I died and what I would NOT want to have at my funeral.