Gemma Whelan
English actress
I want people to really, really cry so The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams.
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Death & what remains
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Run to the Sun by NERD. I’ve always loved that song. People always think that Pharrell [Williams] wrote it about a lover but it was about his grandmother, who passed away. My brother was a massive NERD fan – he got me into them and there’s something so pure and loving about that song. I want my funeral to be a joyous occasion, I want people to rave and to wear bright colours. But for the moment of reflection, I want that song.
The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 7 November 2022 source ↗
Others on this question
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Bella Freud
British fashion designer
Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley.
Liz Jones
British journalist
Heartbeats, by Jose González.
Fatima Bhutto
Pakistani writer
We don’t play songs at funerals where I’m from, but if they had to – Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
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