By Legal Futures Associate Finders International
Last year’s iconic anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by Gerry & The Pacemakers, was the number one choice for funeral music.
The song, which reappeared in the charts thanks to being covered by Michael Ball, Sir Captain Tom Moore and the NHS Voices of Care Choir to raise money for NHS charities, was played at an estimated 9,500 funerals, according to data gathered by the Co-op Funeralcare directors.
The research was carried out on about 100,000 funerals that took place in the last 12 months.
Upbeat anthems
This year’s funeral music top ten also includes upbeat anthems such as ‘Simply the Best’ by Tina Turner, ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac, and ‘This is Me’ from The Greatest Showman. The more controversial choices included ‘W.A.P’ by Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion and ‘Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead’ amongst the most controversial requests
Pauline McAvoy, funeral service manager at Co-op Funeralcare, said: “’You’ll Never Walk Alone’ really has been a stand-out song over the last year – it’s sentiments around weathering the storm of life by coming together and supporting one another have really struck a chord with so many after the extraordinary events of the last eighteen months. It’s a beautiful melody which carries such deep meaning.”
Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore and Co-founder of The Captain Tom Foundation, added that her father had loved the song because it was filled with hope.
Raised more than £32 million
The Captain came to public attention in 2020 when he walked 100 laps of his garden in the build-up to his 100th birthday. He raised more than £32 million for NHS charities and his birthday was marked by a flypast by the Royal Aire Force. He was knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle in July 2020.
He died in February 2021 after being taken into hospital to be treated for pneumonia and then testing positive for Covid-19.
Hannah said: “My father had the unique ability to inspire hope where it was needed most and give a sense of companionship to many. That’s what a powerful song can do as well, which is why I’m comforted to know that my father’s collaboration with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir is continuing his legacy of hope at funerals across the UK when families and loved ones face loss and grief, a feeling that my family knows only too well over the past year.”
Overall top 10
1 You’ll never walk alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers
2 My way – Frank Sinatra
3 Always look on the bright side of life – Eric Idle
4 Simply the best – Tina Turner
5 Supermarket flowers – Ed Sheeran
6 Time to say goodbye – Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
7 The chain – Fleetwood Mac
8 Somewhere over the rainbow – Eva Cassidy
9 We’ll meet again – Vera Lynn
10 This is me – The Greatest Showman
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