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Monty Python Tune Tops Funeral Songs
A study by a chain of funeral directors found the 1979 Life of Brian song had overtaken Frank Sinatra's My Way as the preferred choice of music.
David Collingwood, of The Co-operative Funeralcare, suggested the findings represented "a generational shift in attitudes towards funerals".
"Modern funerals are very much about personal choice," he added.
"The variety of songs played at funerals today illustrates how more and more people are choosing to personalise funerals, and celebrate their loved one's life with a fitting farewell."
Monty Python's irreverent song - which Eric Idle sang at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London - rose from 13th place three years ago, to become the most popular funeral song this year.
"We wonder if it's the people who were young in the swinging '60s, who are now in their 70s and 80s, and if that's informing this trend," a spokesman told the Telegraph.
"Monty Python, for example, is of a certain age."
Robbie Williams, 2005 Robbie Williams' 2004 hit Angels also appears on the list of popular funeral tunes
Hymns The Lord Is My Shepherd and Abide With Me are the second and third most popular choices.
However, more than 84% of funeral directors say hymns or classics are declining in popularity quicker than any other music type.
A study of 30,000 funerals found only nine songs in the top 20 choices were traditional or classical pieces.
Popular choices in the top 10 include Angels by Robbie Williams and Queen's Who Wants To Live Forever.
Television theme tunes, such as Match of the Day, Coronation Street and the Only Fools and Horses theme, also made the top 20.
However certain songs were refused on the grounds of taste or inappropriate language include Relax, by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, God Save The Queen, by the Sex Pistols and John Lennon's Imagine.
"We will accommodate any individual request - no matter how unusual, providing it is legal and decent," said Mr Collingwood.
From:
BBC.com http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30143250
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