Funeral slideshows and funeral slideshow songs
Funeral slideshows with funeral slideshow songs are a great way to commemorate someone you loved. By using the photos that best represent who has just passed away (and your most precious memories), you can set up a moving moment for family and friends.
Adding a piece of music to the slideshow constitutes the final touch to deliver the right emotions, but it can be tricky to pick the perfect one.
Here are ten ideas to choose the right memorial slideshow song.
My Way – Frank Sinatra
This great classic jazz song brought to fame by The Voice Frank Sinatra is the perfect example of how a meaningful tune can enrich your personal tribute to your lost relative or friend.
The lyrics to this tune portray a pretty clear story: someone at the end of his/her life sums up the past experiences, realizing how full their life has been.
The poignant words are enriched by a calm but very powerful music, able to deliver strong emotions.
Due to its universal feel, despite being a song most famous through the Sixties, it can be an excellent choice for commemorating both young or elderly people as a funeral slideshow song.
100 Years – Five for Fighting
A very moving song, about the different phases of life we all experience: from the careless adolescent years through the joys and struggles of adult life.
The singer seems to recall how infinite his chances seemed to be at the age fifteen, when there’s still time for you/time to buy and time to lose, before life would take its course and point at different directions.
Featured in the album The Battle For Everything (2004), this song is a beautiful consideration on life itself.
It is a great choice for a funeral slideshow dedicated to someone we admired for their courage in everyday endeavors.
I will remember you – Sarah McLachlan
The jazz-pop song I Will Remember You is a sweet invocation to someone the singer lost but deeply loved. It also contains profound thoughts on life, expressing the need of living it fully, as indicated by the lyrics Don’t let your life pass you by.
The lulling piano and Sarah McLachlan’s deep vocals add an extremely moving touch to this meaningful tune.
I Will Remember You is the perfect choice of a funeral slideshow song dedicated to a person we loved, such as a spouse or partner.
In color – Jamey Johnson
A great memorial slideshow song to commemorate a beloved grandparent, In color was written by Jamey Johnson, who uses black and white family photos as a metaphor of the complexity of life, the harshness of the Second World War years and the sweetness of a life-long marriage.
Its poignant lyrics are enriched by a beautiful melody, a mellow country-pop arrangement and Jamey Johnson’s husky and intense voice, making it a great choice of music for a funeral slideshow.
In My Life – The Beatles
You can’t go wrong with a Lennon-McCartney classic, especially when you choose In My Life, from the 1965 album Rubber Soul for a memorial slideshow song.
John and Paul disagreed on the real meaning of this song, but the lyrics undoubtedly suggest the story of someone recalling past relationships and important moments of his life, admitting, however, to be open to the present and the future (Though I know I’ll never lose affection/For people and things that went before/I know I’ll often stop and think about them/In my life, I love you more).
This openness to the future provides a great sense of hope and solace, which can be a great addition to your memorial slideshow.
There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
There You’ll Be, featured as the soundtrack to the movie Pearl Harbor, is performed by incredibly talented Faith Hill. Her vocals and interpretation are enough to trigger the deepest emotions, but the lyrics to the song are also quite meaningful and particularly suitable for a funeral slideshow or as a memorial slideshow song.
These lyrics express gratitude towards someone the singer lost. She fondly remembers the person who gave her strength and promises she will never forget him/her.
Whether you are creating a memorial slideshow for a close friend, partner or relative, this tune will be a great choice, especially as a last “thank you” for their support and encouragement to you.
Remember When – Alan Jackson
An incredibly sweet song about a beautiful love story, Remember When is the piece of music you need for the funeral slideshow of your beloved one.
With its soothing lyrics and melody, it portrays the love between songwriter Alan Jackson and his wife. From the very beginning of their relationship to the birth of their children, the songwriter retrospectively looks at how happy their life was and always will be.
Unbelievably moving, but beautiful.
They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Ella Fitzgerald
A jazz standard written by the Gershwin brothers, this classic tune is another perfect choice to commemorate a lost spouse as a funeral slideshow song.
It could also be used to fondly remember a friend or relative and feel connected to them by evoking their habits and peculiarities.
As the lyrics suggest, by a matter of fact, a loved one may be gone, but all those little details about him/her (The way you wear your hat/The way you sip your tea…) cannot be taken away from you.
Ella Fitzgerald’s smooth voice adds feelings of peace to this already perfect song.
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
The title says it all: this jazz song written by Irving Gordon is dedicated to someone we cannot forget.
As per its meaning, it can be a powerful piece of music to play at a funeral, especially when commemorating a close relative or friend.
The calming, velvety tone of this tune, in particular when performed by legendary Nat King Cole, will certainly add the heartfelt touch you need for your memorial slideshow.
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
A contemporary country-pop classic, excellent for commemorating both a child or a parent.
The lyrics to this song, indeed, express a mother’s invitation to her children to live life fully, staying humble and enjoying every experience.
Therefore it delivers a beautiful message and evokes positive emotions, making it a great choice to commemorate a loved one.
There are plenty more possibilities and choices when it comes to picking the right funeral slideshow song. According to your sensitivity and personal history, you will find the tune that best represent the person you want to remember.
For more ideas for funeral slideshow music, check out our articles: Funeral Slideshow Songs and Best Songs for Funeral Slideshows. So, which song will you pick to commemorate your loved one?
