dustbury.com: Crank it loud when I'm gone, Sean

4 October 2006

Crank it loud when I'm gone, Sean

The Research for the Bereavement Register poll found these to be the songs most frequently requested for funerals in Britain:

Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt
Angels - Robbie Williams
I've Had The Time Of My Life - Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Pie Jesu - Requiem
Candle In The Wind - Elton John
With Or Without You - U2
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Danny Boy [traditional]

"Every Breath You Take"? Seriously? Has anyone ever actually listened to this song? Sting supposedly once said it was a metaphor for government surveillance, and I want dead family members watching me about as much as I want Alberto Gonzales watching me, which is to say Not Much.

Inasmuch as I am aging at an appalling rate — one whole year every twelve months or so — it's probably time for me to pick out a playlist to celebrate my own demise. I think it ought to have things like this:

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
Mystery Train - Elvis Presley
7 Rooms of Gloom - Four Tops
No More Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper
When I'm Gone - Brenda Holloway

And I'd be much obliged if someone dug up Nat "King" Cole's "That Sunday, That Summer." It bears no actual resemblance to life as I know it — but oh, how I wish it did.

Posted at 8:08 PM to Listing to One Side , Tongue and Groove

"That Sunday, That Summer"-Great pick!

"If I had to choose just one day to last my whole life through...

It would surely be that Sunday, the day that I met you..."

I wonder if anyone other than Nat (and Natalie-her version's not bad) ever recorded it-Nat may've done it so well no one else wanted to try it.

Posted by: John Salmon at 9:32 PM on 4 October 2006

No Beatles?

Posted by: Mister Snitch! at 9:48 PM on 4 October 2006

You might be right about that. I did finally turn up a version by Kathie Lee Gifford, which I promptly reburied.

Posted by: CGHill at 9:50 PM on 4 October 2006

As for the Fab Four, the obvious tune is "In My Life," which was rejected because it's, well, obvious.

And anyway, it's not like the youngsters are going to honor my request; for all I know, they may undergo a sudden upsurge in piety and order up a slate of worn-out hymns and other Te Deum.

Posted by: CGHill at 9:52 PM on 4 October 2006

Beatles-"Baby's In Black".

Posted by: John Salmon at 11:03 PM on 4 October 2006

I suppose as long as my family does not hang my tanned hide on the shed, I won't worry too much about the funeral music arrangements.

http://users.durge.org/~rich/rolf/kangaroo.html

Although J. Tull's version of J.S. Bach's Bouree would be nice.

Posted by: fritz schranck at 4:24 AM on 5 October 2006

At least you didn't pick "Thank God & Greyhound you're gone." by Roy Clark

Posted by: Dwayne "the canoe guy" at 7:48 AM on 5 October 2006

How about "One Step Beyond" by Madness? :D

Posted by: Matthew at 11:27 AM on 7 October 2006

If I had to choose
just one day
to last my whole life
thru
it would surely be
that
sunday
the day that I met you
newborn whipporwills
were calling from the
hills
summer was a coming in
but fast
lots of daffodils
were showing off their skills
nodding altogether i could almost hear them whisper
go on kiss her
go on and kiss her
(now) (the chorus sings that later)
if I had to choose
one moment
to live within my
heart
it would be
that
tender
mo
ment
recalling how we started
darling it would be
when you smiled at
me
that way
that
sunday
that
summer

********************
I always like to call this song "If I Had to Choose Just One Day" but I'm sure that's breaking some rule somewhere and I certainly wouldn't want to do that.

I'm glad to see that your musical choices are improving.

Posted by: eulalie shinn at 1:17 PM on 7 October 2006

Congratulations on your win.

Posted by: eulalie shinn at 2:11 PM on 7 October 2006

Oh. And by the way.
You're welcome.

Posted by: eulalie shinn at 10:08 PM on 7 October 2006