Best Songs for a Funeral Slideshow: A Complete Guide

Short answer: the best songs for a funeral slideshow are the ones that sound like the person. If they had a favorite, start there. If not, choose one or two songs that match the tone of the service: a reflective classic or hymn for a traditional funeral, something warmer and brighter for a celebration of life. Below are the songs families ask us for most, grouped so you can find the right one quickly.

We have made memorial videos for families for over 30 years. The lists here come from the songs that actually get chosen, and from what we have seen work in a room full of people who loved someone.

How Music Shapes a Memorial Video

Photographs show a life. Music tells the room how to feel about it. A good song sets the pace, gives people permission to cry or smile, and carries the story from early pictures to the last one.

Most memorial slideshows use one to three songs and run three to eight minutes. That usually means 60 to 150 photos. Our guide on how many pictures you need for a funeral slideshow works out the exact number from the length of your songs, and how long a funeral slideshow should be helps you settle the running time first.

Timeless Classic Songs for Funeral Slideshows

These are the songs requested most often across every age group. They are familiar enough that the whole room connects with them.

Reflective and Peaceful

• Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. Gentle ukulele, calm and hopeful. One of the most used memorial songs in the world.
• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. A thank you for the simple joys of life.
• Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, or the Jeff Buckley version. Deeply emotional. Buckley's is the more common choice.
• Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. About someone who was always there. It builds slowly and suits a longer tribute.
• Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy. Soft, warm and nostalgic. Beautiful over photos of a long marriage.
• Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. Grand and moving, often used as a final song.

Uplifting and Celebratory

• My Way by Frank Sinatra. For someone who lived life on their own terms. A strong closing song.
• Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler. For the person who held everyone up: a parent, a spouse, a mentor.
• You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban. Hopeful, with a big build that suits milestone photos.
• Unforgettable by Nat King Cole. Warm and a little playful. Lovely for a grandparent.
• Forever Young by Rod Stewart. Upbeat but tender, for a life full of energy.
• I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. Powerful. Best used once, near the end.

Hymns and Faith Songs

For a religious service, a hymn or faith song often feels most natural. Many of these exist in both vocal and instrumental versions, so you can choose how much the words lead.

• Amazing Grace. Traditional hymn. Works vocal or instrumental, and is recognized across faiths.
• How Great Thou Art. Traditional hymn, with well known versions by Elvis Presley and Carrie Underwood.
• It Is Well With My Soul. Traditional hymn about peace in loss. Gentle and steady.
• On Eagle's Wings by Michael Joncas. A favorite at Catholic services.
• Ave Maria by Schubert. Elegant and reverent, for a traditional service.
• I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. Modern and hopeful. Very popular for a celebration of life.
• Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill. A country gospel song written about loss. Deeply comforting.

Songs by Relationship

Who you are honoring is often the fastest way to the right song.

For a Father

• Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross. One of the most emotional choices for a dad.
• The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics. About the words left unsaid between parent and child.
• My Father's Eyes by Eric Clapton. Reflective and personal.
• Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle. A classic for daughters honoring their dad.
• Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw. For the father whose advice everyone still repeats.

For a Mother

• A Song for Mama by Boyz II Men. Gratitude for a mother's love and sacrifice.
• Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran. Written after the loss of his grandmother. Raw and personal.
• I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack. A mother's wish for her children. Gentle and uplifting.
• The Best Day by Taylor Swift. Written about her own mother. Sweet over childhood photos.

For a Grandparent

• Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days) by The Judds. Warm and nostalgic.
• Unforgettable by Nat King Cole. Fits the era many grandparents grew up in.
• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. Timeless and easy for every generation in the room.

For a Spouse or Partner

• Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. Longing and devotion.
• Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley. Often their wedding song, which makes it more meaningful.
• The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra. Romantic and warm, for a long marriage.
• To Where You Are by Josh Groban. Written about loss. Comforting and hopeful.
• Make You Feel My Love by Adele, or the Bob Dylan original. A quiet promise of love.

For a Friend

• See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. Written for a friend who was lost.
• Lean on Me by Bill Withers. The strength of friendship.
• You've Got a Friend by James Taylor. Warm and reassuring.
• Stand By Me by Ben E. King. Simple, familiar and loyal.

For a Young Person

• Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. Written after the loss of his young son.
• Who You'd Be Today by Kenny Chesney. About a life that ended too early.
• If I Die Young by The Band Perry. Bittersweet, and it speaks to younger audiences.
• Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson. Short and tender.

For a Veteran

• Taps (bugle). The traditional military farewell. Best as a short opening or closing moment.
• America the Beautiful by Ray Charles. Soulful and proud.
• God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood. A common choice for service members and their families.

Country Songs for a Funeral Slideshow

Country music is full of songs about family, faith and loss, and many families ask for it by name.

• The Dance by Garth Brooks. About being grateful for the whole journey, even knowing how it ends.
• If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks. For a spouse or a parent.
• Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw. Upbeat and full of life. Great for an adventurer.
• Drink a Beer by Luke Bryan. Honest and simple, often chosen for a friend or brother.
• Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill. The country memorial song above all others.

Modern Songs for a Memorial Video

For a younger honoree, or a family that wants something less traditional, these recent songs are chosen often.

• Fix You by Coldplay. Slow build to a hopeful release.
• Photograph by Ed Sheeran. About keeping memories close. A natural fit for a photo tribute.
• Lay Me Down by Sam Smith. Tender and personal.
• Hold On by Chord Overstreet. Quiet and heartfelt, about holding on to someone you love.
• See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. Still one of the most requested modern memorial songs.

Upbeat Songs for a Celebration of Life

A celebration of life can be joyful. If the person was the life of the party, the music can be too. Many families open or close with one of these.

• Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. Light and hopeful.
• Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. "Every little thing is gonna be all right."
• Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day. Nostalgic and warm despite the title.
• Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon. Written near the end of his own life. Gentle and loving.
• Forever Young by Rod Stewart. Joyful, with a lump in the throat.

Instrumental Songs for Memorial Slideshows

Instrumentals keep the focus on the photographs. With no lyrics, people connect directly with the pictures and their own memories. They are also the best choice for a slideshow that plays on a loop during a visitation or reception.

• Canon in D by Pachelbel. Elegant and universally recognized.
• Clair de Lune by Debussy. Gentle, reflective piano.
• River Flows in You by Yiruma. A modern piano favorite for memorial videos.
• Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi. Calm, flowing piano that suits a long slideshow.
• Gabriel's Oboe by Ennio Morricone. Hauntingly beautiful.
• The Ludlows by James Horner. Sweeping and cinematic. Pairs well with landscapes and outdoor photos.

Tips for Choosing the Right Song

Start with their favorites. A song they always hummed, their wedding song, the band they followed. A personal connection beats any list.

Match the tone to the service. A traditional funeral suits reflective music and hymns. A celebration of life can be brighter.

Think about the whole room. A song that means everything to you may be unfamiliar to older or younger guests. One well known song plus one personal song is a good balance.

Use one to three songs. One song suits a short tribute. Two or three let the mood move, for example reflective at the start and hopeful at the end.

Listen to the whole song first. A perfect chorus can hide a verse that does not fit the day.

Try an instrumental version. If you love a melody but the lyrics feel too heavy, a piano or string cover keeps the feeling and lets the photos lead.

For more on fitting music and pictures together, see choosing the right music and visuals for a tribute video.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many songs should a funeral slideshow have?

One to three. A single song of three to four minutes is enough for about 60 to 80 photos. For a longer tribute, two or three songs let the mood change as the story moves through the years.

What is the most popular funeral slideshow song?

In our experience, the Israel Kamakawiwoʻole version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, What a Wonderful World and Hallelujah are chosen most often. For hymns, Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art lead.

Should the last song be upbeat?

It often helps. Many families end on something hopeful, so people leave remembering the joy of the life and not only the loss.

Can a song be shortened to fit the slideshow?

Yes. A song can be trimmed or faded so it ends on the final photo, or two songs can be blended into one another. That is part of the editing work in a professional memorial video.

Can I use a famous song?

Yes, for a private service or a family gathering. The songs you pick are for your family's personal use, not for resale. If you plan to post the video on YouTube or Facebook, those sites may mute or flag well known songs, so an instrumental version is a safer choice for public sharing.

Let Us Help You Create the Memorial Video

Choosing the songs is one part of a meaningful tribute. You choose the photos and set the order you want them in, folder by folder, in your private client portal. Our editors take that running order and tell the story on screen, pacing every image to the music with smooth transitions and a cohesive look.

You can watch finished examples on our sample videos page, or see how it works on our memorial video services page. When you are ready, contact us to talk through your project.

Located in Westchester, NY, we serve families nationwide through our fully remote platform.