IT may sound a bit morbid, but a lot of people do think about it - the music you want at your funeral.

Whether it's an upbeat tune to celebrate your life, or a more sombre number, music plays an important part in your last event.

Now, Co-op Funeralcare has produced a music chart of the most popular farewell songs.

Coming out on top is Gerry and the Pacemakers' emotional standard, You’ll Never Walk Alone, which has knocked previous favourite - Frank Sinatra’s My Way - off the top spot.

The funeral firm estimates it has been played at 9,500 funerals over the past year.

The hit, which spent four weeks at number one in 1963, captured the nation’s Covid-stricken heart last April when it was covered by Michael Ball, Sir Captain Tom Moore and the NHS Voices of Care Choir last April to raise money for charity.

The evocative anthem is also famously the team song for both Liverpool FC and Celtic FC, meaning its appeal spans the generations.

In another shift, the top 10 features a number of surprisingly upbeat new entries, including Tina Turner’s feelgood hit, Simply the Best, at number four and Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain – whose bass riff is famous as the theme for Formula 1 television packages – at number seven.

Meanwhile, The Greatest Showman’s rousing theatrical showstopper, This Is Me, enters the chart for the first time at number 10, proving that for many, sad downbeat and melancholic songs could be falling out of favour.

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The historical music chart, which is now celebrating its 20th year is based on data and insights from Co-op Funeralcare’s own funeral directors and arrangers, who conduct approximately 100,000 funerals a year.

Among the more controversial requests received by Co-op Funeralcare colleagues are W.A.P, by Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys, F*** Forever by Babyshambles, Ha Ha You’re Dead by Green Day, and Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead from The Wizard of Oz.

Potentially offensive songs are often refused by a third-party, such as the chosen venue or person ordaining the funeral.

In the top ten contemporary pop songs, hits by Snow Patrol, Freya Ridings, Amy Winehouse and Christina Perri all enter the chart for the first time, while film classics such as Titanic’s My Heart Will Go On, Dirty Dancing’s (I’ve had) The Time of My Life and Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard all enter the film and television chart.

Top 10 funeral music charts for 2021:

  1. You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and 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

Sam Tyrer, managing director of Co-op Funeralcare, said: “Music plays such a big part in all of our lives, it’s no surprise that our favourite songs play a role in the way we say goodbye too.

"The songs we choose for a funeral all hold unique and personal meaning for ourselves and loved ones but naturally some songs remain more popular than others and we’re delighted to unveil this year’s music chart.

"Each element of a funeral is a very personal choice and we’re encouraging the nation to be more open about their funeral wishes – music is a really simple and comforting place to start.”

Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore and co-founder of The Captain Tom Foundation, said: “My father loved the song You’ll Never Walk Alone because, just like him, it was full of hope.

"Right up until his passing, his priority was always to make sure that no-one should feel alone or helpless no matter their age or life circumstance, and that’s one of the reasons he started to walk his laps of our garden last year.

"Whether to me and my family, a stranger in the street, or someone reading about his fundraising on the other side of the world, 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 one’s face loss and grief, a feeling that my family knows only too well over the past year.”