I was very encouraged to read this excellent blog by Gail Ruben.

Gail runs A Good Goodbye out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Its strapline, which appeals hugely to the My Last Song team, is ‘Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die’. We have two straplines which benefit from greater brevity but lack the clever humour. They are: ‘Plan Your Exit Strategy’ and ‘A Good Life Deserves A Good Ending’.

Gail’s blog looked at what she loosely titles funeral films, and then describes the great music played in the soundtracks.  Quite a few have been chosen by visitors to Family Bhive in their fave five – the five songs they want to be remembered by, or played at their funeral, or send off party. Several haven’t yet been chosen but should be listened to because they are  excellent farewell songs.

What was encouraging was the confirmation that there is  a growing interest in the importance of getting the right music played at your farewell, rather than clichéd hymns (and I recognise how important hymns are for those of the Christian faith) and even clichéd secular songs.

My Way comes top of those songs that show little imagination. There are better Frank Sinatra tracks, even though Paul Anka’s lyrics are very apt for the final review of a life about to end.

In the past few months there have been increasing number of online forums, mainly in the US, Canada and UK, discussing funeral songs. The range of suggestions has been vast, covering most modern music genres, as well as arias and classical pieces.

Anything which makes people think about their mortality and plan to make it as positive and successful a goodbye as possible should be encouraged. That’s why we are part of the Dying Matters coalition here in the UK and want to share information and ideas with people like Gail Ruben in the US.

I have been considering the last songs I want played at my final events. I will have an atheist funeral so no hymns. But as I write those words, I think of older family members that will be shocked that if I didn’t have some sort of religious element in my send off. Still, I can’t be dishonest so no compromises. The funeral songs will be secular, and reflect my love of jazz and soul music.

My wake will be a good party, going on for several hours. A good party means good music, so my playlist will have soul and ska classics, jazz dance, two step, lovers rock as well as some songs that are the soundtrack to my life, and which will mean something to those who know me.

And, if I still have enough money left, I will tell my executor to organise a memorial celebration on my birthday.  And this should give him enough time to book a good live band. I will make the playlist for the gig.

I will be able to create these lists of musical choices thanks to My Last Song.  In the music section, you can create playlists and then put them in your Vault. Then they can be accessed by your executor or close family member when you pass, happy in the knowledge that your passing will be commemorated by the music you have chosen.

Neat, hey?

The last songs lists are coming in now, and I’m enjoying putting them on the site.

Today, two people had Here Comes The Sun by the Beatles, and one of them also included Van Morrison’s Moondance.

A special mention also to Sylvia Lambe whose hymns are reggae classics, and who included in her list Love No Limit by Mary J Blige.

For sheer emotional aural pleasure, I recommend Carole Tongue’s list. The Mozart  Clarinet Quintet, Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Shostakovitch’s 2nd piano concerto are among some of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

A nod to Peter Hodgkinson’s list. It starts with Isfahan by Duke Ellington and ends with People Get Ready by Aretha Franklin.

So you get to see the range of last songs that is starting to appear. Not all lists encompass a wide range of tastes. Chris Hill selected five tracks by the Rolling Stones.

We want more fave five lists, so put your headphones on, go through your collection and select the five pieces of music you want to be remembered by.

Do you know the music you want played at your funeral? Have you made the list?  Who knows where it is, or is it something you keep putting off?

I came up with the idea for My Last Song because I had been to funerals which didn’t give the parted the farewell they deserved, in part because the music was dreary or inappropriate.

This website now gives you the opportunity to create the playlist for your funeral, your wake and even a life celebration party. These can then be stored in a secure digital Vault which can be opened when you pass, or when you give permission for it to be opened.

We are also asking people to send in their fave five farewell tracks. That is the five pieces of music which they want to be remembered by.

Most funerals only allow time for three pieces, but that’s not the point of the fave fives…it is to say: ‘These songs means something special to me, and this is why.”

Send in your fave five tracks to playlists@mylastsong.com and they are likely to appear on the site so that others can see the music that’s important in your life.  Some might even add one or two of your songs to their lists.

It happened to me…someone wanted Play Me by Neil Diamond played at their funeral. I loved that song when I was in my early 20s. It’s now on my list.

My Last Song is a website that helps people choose the music they want to be remembered by, and organise their funerals/wakes/celebration parties so that their choices are played…not what other people think they would like played.

Yes, we believe a good life deserves a good ending, one that is positive and celebratory, not the dreary anonymous farewells that so many are given.

To encourage people to make their personal choices, we want some notable playlists from individuals who people will be interested in.

So, well known musicians, artists, celebrities, broadcasters, disc jockeys, politicians (past misdemeanors forgiven), consider what pieces of music, readings, video clips, you want played at your farewell events, and we will feature them.

Or indeed anybody who thinks their choice of music to mark their endings will interest and inspire others to make their choices.  If you submit My Way by Frank Sinatra, you are disqualified.

The list can amuse, shock, inspire and surprise.

We are limiting the choice to five.

As well as the pieces, a brief description of why you have chosen the piece will be very helpful and informative.

Send as soon as you can to playlists@mylastsong.com.

Many thanks…and spread the word.