They came of age in the “swinging sixties,” and now baby boomers are dying as they lived: ditching tradition and replacing it with Monty Python, pop songs and even fancy dress at their funerals.
The generation who grew up with the surreal comedians’ sketches and films is believed to be behind a surge in demand for the song Always Look On the Bright Side of Life at funerals, making it the most popular number to bow out to.
With its famously chirpy lyrics about the absurdity of life and the finality of death, the hit from the irreverent 1979 film Monty Python’s Life of Brian rose from the 13th most commonly chosen song three years ago to the top spot this year, research by The Co-operative Funeralcare revealed.
The more traditional choices of The Lord is My Shepherd and Abide with Me were pushed into second and third place respectively as the Python member behind the song, Eric Idle, proved that comedy conquers all.
Hits by Queen also proved popular choices of funeral music, with nine songs by the band - including Who Wants to Live Forever and Don’t Stop Me Now - among the most commonly chosen.
Elvis Presley was the most requested solo singer.
The survey, based on more than 30,000 funerals, found that around a third of funeral homes had received unusual or quirky requests, including for mourners to wear fancy dress or for the hearse to take the form of a JCB digger or milk float.
Among the bizarre funeral themes requested was an Abba theme, a Beach Boys-style surf theme and a Blues Brother theme.
Some funeral home directors reported presiding over Star Wars funerals, while at others the mourners were asked to wear football strips or One Direction t-shirts instead of more sombre black attire.
A spokesman for The Co-operative said: “There’s been general shift towards people trying to find some way of celebrating the life of their loved ones, whether through the choice of music or in other ways.
“It’s not mainstream, but in the past it would have been totally frowned on.
“We wonder if it’s the people who were young in the swinging sixties, who are now in their 70s and 80s, and if that’s informing this trend. Monty Python, for example, is of a certain age.”
With funerals increasingly becoming more of a celebration of someone’s life, family and friends are “looking for more fitting ways to say goodbye,” he added.
Television theme tunes were also found to have crept into the top 20 most popular funeral songs, with the Match of the Day music at number four and the Coronation Street theme tune at number 17.
Only nine of the top 20 were traditional or classical pieces.
The boundaries of good taste had not been entirely eroded however, the research showed, with certain songs refused on the grounds of their inappropriate lyrics.
Among these were Bat out of Hell by Meat Loaf, Another One Bites the Dust, by Queen, and Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Songs by Eminem and the Sex Pistols were also rejected on taste grounds.
David Collingwood, Operations Director at The Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “We will accommodate any individual request, no matter how unusual, providing it is legal and decent.”
sumelar on February 28th, 2020 at 20:47 UTC »
The Pythons sang it at Graham Chapmans funeral, just after John Cleese's legendary eulogy.
attentyv on February 28th, 2020 at 20:05 UTC »
Here’s why:
Some things in life are bad, They can really make you mad, Other things just make you swear and curse! When you're chewing on life's gristle Don't grumble, give a whistle! And this'll help things turn out for the best! And.....
Always look on the bright side of life Always look on the light side of life
If life seems jolly rotten, There's something you've forgotten! And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing! When you're feeling in the dumps, Don't be silly chumps! Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing! And
Always look on the bright side of life (Come on) Always look on the right side of life
For life is quite absurd, And death's the final word! You must always face the curtain with a bow! Forget about your sin, Give the audience a grin! Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow!
So always look on the bright side of death, A just before you draw your terminal breath.
Life's a piece of shit, When you look at it! Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true... You'll see it's all a show, Keep 'em laughin' as you go! Just remember that the last laugh is on you! And
Always look on the bright side of life Always look on the right side of life (C'mon Brian, cheer up) Always look on the bright side of life Always look on the bright side of life Always look on the bright side of life
I mean, what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing You're going back to nothing What have you lost? Nothing
Always look on the right side of life Nothing will come from nothing, ya know what they say
Cheer up ya old bugga c'mon give us a grin (Always look on the right side of life) There ya are, see It's the end of the film Incidentally this record's available in the foyer (Always look on the right side of life) Some of us got to live as well, you know (Always look on the right side of life) Who do you think pays for all this rubbish (Always look on the right side of life) They're not gonna make their money back, you know I told them, I said to him, Bernie, I said they'll never make their money back (Always look on the right side of life)
PepperPhoenix on February 28th, 2020 at 19:25 UTC »
I think that this says just about everything you need to know about the British attitudes towards life, death and comedy.