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Talkhouse Playlist: DIANA’s Funeral Songs

The trio want to celebrate life.

12:55 PM EST on November 17, 2016

Electro pop band DIANA dug into their eclectic influences to put together today's Talkhouse Playlist: a list of songs each member would like to have played at their funeral. Make sure to check out their LP, Familiar Touch, out November 18, and enjoy!
–Dave Lucas, Talkhouse Marketing Manager

Joseph Shabason

Brian Eno – "The Big Ship"

I've always felt that this song is somehow somber and joyful at the same time. I feel like it will make people sad that I'm gone, but will also instill them with a sense of hope for the future...even though their futures are going to be bleak and meaningless without me in their lives ;)

The Blue Nile – "Tinseltown in the Rain"

I want to die as I lived....Funky yet emotional.

John Coltrane – "Say It (Over and Over Again)"

Why not go out to one of the sickest tenor tones in the history of tenor tones playing a gorgeous ballad? No brainer, right?

Count Basie – "Polkadots and Moonbeams"

Lester Young is the smokiest tenor man in the biz...Pure melody and perfect tone. I've probably listened to this song more than two hundred times and can play the solo note for note. It only seems appropriate that it should be playing at my funeral.

Carmen Elle

Janet Jackson – "Together Again"

I like the idea of having a "celebration of life"-style funeral. "Together Again" brings the party without being vapid or overly optimistic. The good vibes in this song are fully grounded in reality, which makes me like it all the more. My funeral instructions are: play this song six times in a row and then move on once everyone has fully soaked in it.

Bonnie Raitt – "I Can't Make You Love Me"

Because who doesn't want a perfect song to be played at their funeral? This is my pick. My instructions: start the party off with this tune. Let people have a little cry if they must. Everyone can hug. And then bring on the Janet.

Fleetwood Mac – "Dreams"

Instructions: mandatory group sing-along to acknowledge that this song was my top karaoke choice for many years. They'll all smile softly to themselves and say, "She died as she lived...trying to be Stevie Nicks."

Bjork – "All Is Full of Love"

I guess I selected two perfect songs. Instructions: listen real deep. Feel your feels. Remember your rememberances. Share your shares. Call your moms.

Kieran Adams

(To be played in order.)

I'm picturing this all very cinematically, because it's hard to actually picture your funeral. Strangely enough, even though I have no plans for any normal funeral, I keep picturing that: casket/flowers/also in a church somehow...haha.

So, yeah, with that in mind, we'll start with a tear-jerker. Kinda start off maybe making people even sadder with this one to achieve a nice arc of emotion (is that demented?). I don't even really think the lyrics add up, but it feels right.

New Order – "Your Silent Face"

Then,  because he just died shortly before I wrote this, this gem. RIP Leonard.

Leonard Cohen – "True Love Leaves No Traces"

Next, to start bringing the mood up a little, although in a restrained fashion: a one hundred percent perfect song. It would be addressed to all the loved ones that I've leaned on so much...maybe? I hope I'd hear it echoing up into wherever I'll be one last time.

Sade – "Lover's Rock"

And then for a real send-off. Hopefully it will maybe even get some folks dancing. Also, if I am, indeed, in a church in a coffin, this would be a good time for some friends (Joseph? Carm?) to prop me up Weekend at Bernie's-style and put a mic in my hand so that they can pretend I'm singing to all my favorite people...It'd be cute

Hiroshi Sato – "Say Goodbye"

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