Philippa Perry: What song would you like played at your funeral?

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Philippa Perry said elsewhere, not written here

One written in 2057.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 June 2021 source ↗

Others on this question

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Sara Pascoe English comedian, presenter, writer

Nothing – I don’t like music. I want my funeral to be uncomfortably quiet.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 July 2018 source ↗

Rory Kinnear English actor

That will depend on when and how I die, but you couldn’t beat The Birdie Song to set the right tone.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 August 2017 source ↗

Ivan Lendl Czech and American tennis player

I am not thinking about dying yet.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2017 source ↗

Sananda Maitreya Singer and songwriter

As a native-derived person, we don’t believe in death. Death is a western, fear-based concept. We believe that an eternal spirit is housed into a temporary vehicle, and when that vehicle no longer becomes tenable to inhabit, we just move on. If I had to play music, I’d insist on Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 26 October 2025 source ↗