birth: “For unto us a Child is born” from Handel’s Messiah. 
death: Beethoven’s 9th.
Birth: “Meat Sandwich” by GWAR
Death: The Benny Hill theme
Birth: “Flirting With Disaster” - Molly Hatchett
Death: It’s actually in my Living Will - “40 Days” - Dave Brubeck. The original recording from Time In.
Birth I don’t care about, as I would hardly have been in a condition to care or pay attention.
But my death song is The Favourite Hour by Elvis Costello. The occasion when he sang it to me (or so I fancied at the time) unaccompanied and unamplified will stay with me forever.
Whereas you’ll be in top form after your death 
Queen-Don’t Stop Me Now
Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody
- What song do you wish had played during your birth? Ace Of Spades by Motörhead
- What is the last song you want to hear as you finally breathe your last? Ace Of Spades by Motörhead
I didn’t exactly express that well, did I. I meant something like; it would be some comfort to me dying that my loved ones will hear that song at my funeral/wake.
Wow. Great music.
Birth No preference…maybe some sprightly Mozartian piece.
**While Dying ** George Harrison, All Things Must Pass
At the Memorial Service: I always figured champage and upbeat music for the guests, but now I think I’ll steal Silenus’ Dave Brubeck music, and have good Scotch served.
Leontyne Price: “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess
alt is the Janis Joplin version. I like both. The instrumental work on the Joplin one just resonates with me.
Black Sabbath: “Planet Caravan” from Paranoid
alt is the latin version
Rondellus: “Planetarum Vagatio” from Sabbatum
Birth : O Fortuna
Death: Bright Side of Life
I’ve already told my family that I want 2 songs played at my death:
Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin
Highway to Hell-AC/DC
This way I’m covered wherever I end up.
Jeez, I’d turn around and go back in.
This thread is unexpectedly depressing. Something about mortality and having to think about it. I’ll have to think and get back tomorrow after less Ambien and more Wellbutrin.
“Waiting For a Train” (Rogers)
“Wine Colored Roses” (as sung by Geo. Jones)
And if I’m daid, give me the Aria from Beethoven’s Op. 132 – you know the one. I promised to play it at an old teacher’s funeral, but I don’t know if he daid yet, but at least I can bring it. Also, 'Danny Boy" in Bill Evans’s arrangement – a nice mellow take on an old classic that will keep the audience riveted.
I had a friend who, after she died, we found out that she’d not only left her husband a note with the music she wanted played, but had her entire funeral planned out, to the smallest detail.
I promptly told my wife that her micro-management stops with her last breath, and that if she pulled that trick, I’d get quite a kick out of subverting all her last wishes… “Oh, no, pastor, she specifically wanted her ex-boyfriend’s Starship tribute band to play ‘We Built This City’!”
So after my snarkiness, I really don’t have the right to request tunage… though there is a hymn whose last verse contains the belief: “And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on…” – it’s triumphant.
That might be the one… I know one of the hymns I’d really like for my funeral is #666 in the Lutheran Hymnal (as my son put it “That is perfect, dad-- a nice little shout-out to Satan”).
Birth: Genesis -Carpet Crawlers
Death: Pink Floyd -The Great Gig in the Sky
Effed up my post. Born: Beethoven Op. 111 (2nd movement) Aria (or one of the Op. 126 Bagatellen – dealer’s choice). Dead: Taps, on a French horn. Or the first movement of Op. 111. In case where I weren’t dead, I might jump up and play that spritely little thing too – it’s a test, see?
If I’m picking a George Jones song to die to, it has to be “He Stopped Loving Her Today”. Not that yours is a bad choice, and I’m sure he’s done more than a few that are suitable!
Although if anyone play high-tech redneck at my funeral I’ll come back to haunt them!