35 songs for a memorial video: sad, hopeful and upbeat

Music does more work in a memorial video than anything else. It sets the pace of the photos, tells people when to laugh and when to cry, and is often what they remember afterward. Below are songs families often choose for memorial videos, funeral slideshows and celebrations of life, grouped by the feeling you want. First, three quick tips.

How to choose

• Start with their music. A song they loved, sang in the car or danced to at their wedding will always mean more than a "perfect" funeral song.
• Use one or two songs, not five. A 4-minute video fits one song; an 8-minute video fits two. Changing songs every minute feels like a mixtape, not a story.
• Match the arc. Many families start reflective and end hopeful, or start with a quiet song and finish with something upbeat that sounds like them.

Reflective and tender

1. “Tears in Heaven”, Eric Clapton. Quiet, guitar-led, written about loss. Gentle under a slow run of photos.
2. “Hallelujah”, Jeff Buckley. Slow and haunting. Works well for the closing minute.
3. “Supermarket Flowers”, Ed Sheeran. A piano song about losing a mother. Many families choose it for a mom.
4. “See You Again”, Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth. A modern farewell song, often chosen for younger people.
5. “Angel”, Sarah McLachlan. Soft piano and voice. A classic for memorial slideshows.
6. “I Will Remember You”, Sarah McLachlan. As the title says. Simple and heartfelt.
7. “The Dance”, Garth Brooks. About being grateful for the time you had, even knowing how it ends.
8. “Go Rest High on That Mountain”, Vince Gill. A country gospel farewell, beloved at Southern funerals.
9. “Fly”, Céline Dion. Short and soaring, good for a closing photo.
10. “Who You'd Be Today”, Kenny Chesney. For a life that ended too soon.
11. “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, Simon & Garfunkel. A song about being there for someone. Builds beautifully.
12. “Time After Time”, Cyndi Lauper. Tender and familiar, about always being there.

Hopeful and uplifting

13. “What a Wonderful World”, Louis Armstrong. Warm and grateful. Fits almost any life.
14. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World”, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Ukulele and a gentle voice. Light, not heavy.
15. “Wind Beneath My Wings”, Bette Midler. A thank-you to someone who made everything possible.
16. “You Raise Me Up”, Josh Groban. Big and emotional, often used for the final section.
17. “Amazing Grace”, Traditional hymn. Many recordings exist. Choose a version that fits the family's faith and tone.
18. “Forever Young”, Rod Stewart. A blessing from a parent to a child. Good over childhood photos.
19. “In My Life”, The Beatles. About the people and places that made a life. Short and perfect for a montage.
20. “Live Like You Were Dying”, Tim McGraw. For someone who lived fully.
21. “I Hope You Dance”, Lee Ann Womack. Hopeful advice, often chosen for a mother or grandmother.
22. “Photograph”, Ed Sheeran. About keeping love in pictures. Fits a slideshow naturally.
23. “Somewhere Only We Know”, Keane. Nostalgic and gentle, for a shared place or a long friendship.

Upbeat, for a celebration of life

24. “Here Comes the Sun”, The Beatles. Bright and comforting. A lovely opening.
25. “Three Little Birds”, Bob Marley & the Wailers. Easy and reassuring. Great for someone laid-back.
26. “Stand by Me”, Ben E. King. Friendship and loyalty. People will sing along.
27. “You've Got a Friend”, Carole King. For the friend everyone called first.
28. “Ain't No Mountain High Enough”, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. Joyful. Good for a lively section of photos.
29. “Don't Stop Believin'”, Journey. For the optimist, and the karaoke regular.
30. “My Way”, Frank Sinatra. For someone who lived life on their own terms.
31. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”, Green Day. Bittersweet but upbeat. Popular at celebrations of life.

For a mom or dad

32. “Dance with My Father”, Luther Vandross. A son remembering his father. Deeply moving.
33. “A Song for Mama”, Boyz II Men. A thank-you to a mother.
34. “Daddy's Hands”, Holly Dunn. A daughter remembering her father's hands. Country, gentle.
35. “The Best Day”, Taylor Swift. A daughter thanking her mother. Fits childhood photos well.

Fitting the song to your photos

• Build the video to the music, not the other way round. Count how long the song is, then choose photos to fit: about 5 seconds each.
• Change photos on the beat where you can, and save the strongest photo for the chorus or the final note.
• Leave room for voices. If you're including voice memos from family and friends, lower the music under them, or use an instrumental version of the song.

A note on music rights

Playing a song at a private service is generally fine. Posting the video online is different: YouTube, Facebook and Instagram may mute, block or flag videos that use copyrighted recordings. For the version you share online, use royalty-free music, or an instrumental from a licensed library, and keep the original song for the service itself.

Frequently asked questions