Funeralwise.com Logo

Pop Rock Songs for a Funeral Service

Pop Rock Songs for a Funeral Service

Gone are the days when the only appropriate songs for funerals were hymns and classical pieces. Today, pop-rock and contemporary music can very tastefully be woven into the funeral ceremony. The trouble is, with so many choices how do you select the right pop-rock songs for funerals? There are really no rules when it comes to choosing funeral songs but you do need to keep in mind the feelings of those who will be attending. As long as you stick to the bounds of good taste and are certain that music would be appreciated by the deceased, you can choose the perfect pop-rock songs for funerals.

There are really no rules when it comes to choosing funeral songs but you do need to keep in mind who will be attending and that it will be a sensitive time for them. As long as you stick to the bounds of good taste and more modern music would be appreciated by the deceased, you can choose the perfect pop-rock songs for funerals.

>>Creating a Celebration of Life

There are hundreds of pop-rock songs for a funeral and it can take some time to go through the many lists that are available. We’ve included the most popular selections below. Your best bet is to listen carefully to the words of the songs you are considering. Sometimes the lyrics aren’t quite what we remember them to be. If the deceased enjoyed listening to contemporary music you can get ideas on his or her favorites by looking through their personal collection. You can also get advice from friends and family.

Angels–Robbie WilliamsBecause You Loved Me –Celine Dion (Glee cover) Blackbird–Paul McCartney (Leah West cover) Bridge Over Troubled Waters–Simon & Garfunkel Candle in the Wind–Elton John (Ed Sheeran cover) Dance With My Father Again–Luther Vandross (Cover) Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me—Strait No Chaser/Elton John Fields of Gold–Sting Golden Slumbers–The Beatles Hallelujah –Jeff Buckley I Will Always Love You –Whitney Houston In The Arms Of An Angel–Sarah McLachlan
Landslide–Dixie Chicks Let It Be–Paul McCartney Morning Has Broken–Cat Stevens Rainbow–Kacy Musgrove Sounds of Silence–Simon & Garfunkel (Kenny G cover) Tears in Heaven–Eric Clapton Up Where We Belong –Joe Cocker, Jennifer Warner Wild Horses–The Rolling Stones Wildflowers–Tom Petty Without You–Mariah Carey You Raise Me Up–Josh Groban You’ve Got a Friend –James Taylor

>> See Creating a Celebration of Life

No list of pop-rock songs for funerals is complete without a selection of songs by the Beatles. Below are some of the classics which would be appropriate for a funeral. There may be more, these are among the most popular.

The Beatles/Paul McCartney/John Lennon/Ringo Starr

All You Need Is LoveLittle Willow
Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles)Never Without You
Here Comes the SunThe Long and Winding Road (Paul McCartney)
Hey, JudeThere are Places I’ll Remember
ImagineWith A Little Help From My Friends
In My LifeYesterday

Recent performances notwithstanding, Maria Carey is still one of the world’s most amazing vocalists. Because her songs evoke emotion and passion, they are popular choices for pop-rock songs for funerals.

Mariah Carey

ButterflyNever Too Far Away
Bye ByeOne Sweet Day
HeroI’ll Be There
Never Forget You

More Popular Pop Rock Songs for Funerals and Memorials

A Day Without Rain, If I Could Be Where You Are, May It Be, Only Time
Enya
Fly, My Heart Will Go On
Celine Dion
Lean on Me
Bill Withers
Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Diana Ross
Flying Without Wings
Westlife
Life is Eternal
Carly Simon
Stand by Me
Ben E. King
Aloha ‘Oe, Ka Makani Ka’ili Aloha
The Brothers Cazimero
For the Good Times, Loving Her Was Easier
Kris Kristofferson
Longer
Dan Fogelberg
Standing Right Next To Me
Karla Bonoff
An Ending
Brian Eno
Forever Young
Rod Stewart
Look On Down From The Bridge
Mazzy Star
Stop All The Clocks
Nemo Shaw
And When I Die
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Freebird
Lynard Skynyrd
Many Rivers to Cross
Jimmy Cliff
Summer Rain
Brenda Carlisle
Angels in Waiting
Tommy Cochrane
Goin’ Back
Dusty Springfield
Missing You
Brandy/Gladys Night
Take My Breath Away
Berlin
As Long As I Can See The Light
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Going Home
Mary Fahl
Morning Bird
The Sleepy Jackson
Talking to my Angel
Melissa Etheridge
Baby Mine
Bette Midler
Goodbye My Friend
Linda Ronstadt
My Heart Will Go On
Celine Dion
Thank You for Loving Me
Bon Jovi
Back Home Again, When the River Meets the Sea
John Denver
Goodbye My lover
James Blunt
My Last Breath, My Immortal
Evanescence
The Flame
Cheap Trick
Bang the Drum Slowly
Emmylou Harris
Goodnight My Angel, Lullabye, Only the Good Die Young, She’s Got a Way
Billy Joel
Never Tear Us Apart
INXS
The Last Waltz
Engelbert Humperdink
Beautiful Day
U2
Have I Told You Lately
Rod Stewart or Van Morrison
No One But You
Queen
The Time of Your Life
Green Day
Blessed, Funeral For A Friend, Candle in the Wind
Elton John
Heaven Sent
Cindy Marro
Nothing compares to you
Sinead O’Connor
Three Times A Lady
Lionel Richie
Blowin’ In The Wind, Every Grain of Sand, Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Bob Dylan
He’s My Son
Mark Schultz
Ode To My Family
The Cranberries
Time to Say Goodbye
Brightman & Bocelli
Borrowed Angels
Kristin Chenoweth
Home
Daughtry
Precious Child
Karen Taylor
To Where You Are
Josh Groban
Both Sides Now
Judy Collins
Home
Michael Buble
Really Gonna Miss You
Smokey Robinson
Try Not To Breathe
R.E.M.
Calling All Angels
Grace Griffith
How Far is Heaven
Los Lonely Boys
Remember Christmas
Harry Nillson
Turn, Turn, Turn
The Birds
Change The World
Eric Clapton
I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
Remembering You
Steven Curtis Chapman
Unchained Melody
Righteous Brothers
Child of Mine, So Far Away
Carole King
I Feel Like Going Home
Muddy Waters
Right Here Waiting
Richard Marx
Until I see you again
Wiz Kalifa
Close to You
The Carpenters
I’ve Had The Time Of My Life
Jennifer Warner and Bill Medley
Run to Paradise
Choirboys
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
Don McLean
Come on Up to the House
Tom Waits
I’ll Be Missing You
P. Diddy, Faith Evans
Sand and Water
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Wayfaring Stranger
Eva Cassidy
Come Sail Away
Styx
I’ll Remember
Madonna
Seasons in the Sun
Terry Jacks
Where Have All the Flowers Gone
Peter Paul & Mary
Death Letter Blues
Son House
If I Fall Behind
Bruce Springsteen
She’s Gone
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Who Knew
Pink
Deliver Me, Who Wants to Live Forever
Sarah Brightman
In The Blink of An Eye
Mercy Me
Shine Your Light
Robbie Robertson
Wildflower
Color Me Badd
End of the Line
Travelling Wilburys
Into The Mystic
Van Morrison
Simply the Best
Tina Turner
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Everything I Own, If
Bread
Jealous of the Angels
Jenn Bostic
Since I Lost You
Genesis
Wishing You Were Here, You’re The Inspiration
Chicago
Farewell my friend
Dennis Wilson
Joy To The World
Three Dog Night
So long Marianne
Leonard Cohen
You Are So Beautiful To Me
Joe Cocker
Father and Son, Morning Has Broken, Oh Very Young
Cat Stevens
Keep Me in Your Heart
Warren Zevon
Softly as I Leave You
Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams
You Are The Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder
Fire and Rain, Fire and Rain, You Can Close Your Eyes
James Taylor
Last Kiss
Pearl Jam
Spirit in the Sky
Norman Greenbaum
You’re Missing
Bruce Springsteen

As with any other music you select, you must follow copyright law when playing pop-rock songs for funerals and the rules for music that is piped in may be different than for that used in a slide show or video. Most funeral homes have arrangements with the top music licensing agencies and can legally provide you with music from the above lists, but be sure to talk with your funeral director to ensure that you can legally use the songs before making your final choices.

How Much Will Your Funeral Cost? Try Our QuickPlan to Find Out.