Recently received a text from my brother:
Play Ray Davies' Better Things at my funeral.
Thanks.
No, he wasn't about to go bungee jumping, he was up the Hunter Valley getting on the fuel. Nevertheless, I took the request seriously and made a note. Somewhere.
You know, I'm not sure about the rest of you, but while BT is a cracking track, I'd prefer they play The Kinks' All of My Friends Were There at my funeral. Not only is it one of my all-time favourite songs, but the sentiment fits - more so if I wasn't there.
"A friend in need is a friend you don't need." ~~ Arthur Daley
Bugger that, what about Charge of the Light Brigade, or some happy, cheery oompah oompah music to send me out.
Posted by: TimT | 18 May 2006 at 15:25
It's disco for me. With pallbearers on roller skates.
Posted by: Wicking | 18 May 2006 at 16:29
I've been busting for the AFL to do something embarrassingly pro-Victorian so I can quote Victoria by the Kinks in my blog, but the situation has never really presented itself. Bloody AFL.
So you're a Village Green man then, Tony?
Posted by: carneagles | 18 May 2006 at 17:57
My Jules is going to play "Che faro Euridice" by Gluck. Not quite right, seeing I'm Orfeo and I'm the one that's dead, but still pretty classy, eh?
Posted by: os | 18 May 2006 at 18:30
Tim: Oompah. Oompah. You in lederhosen somehow looks right.
Wickers: Darwin - the New Orleans of Straya.
Carna: Very much a Something Else, Village Green, Arthur, Lola, Muswell Hillbillies kind of bloke. Chuck in Days, Sunny Afternoon, and plenty others.
Os: Che faro Euridice? To quote Windsor Davies "Well, LAA DEE DAA, Mr gunner Graham."
Posted by: Tony.T | 18 May 2006 at 19:02
Hmmm, all good suggestions but I'd go with a song that was a constant on the cartridge player in our '74 volvo - Nana Mouskouri's 'Turn on the Sun'.
Posted by: MillyMoo | 18 May 2006 at 19:39
8-Track, classy.
Posted by: Tony.T | 18 May 2006 at 20:18
Superb!
Posted by: carneagles | 18 May 2006 at 20:45
Well theres the obvious "He Ain't Heavy..." and "Brother brother..there's too many of us dying....."
But I'd suggest you email back that sibling of yours and say "Sorry old son but it's this song or nuffink.."
"People get the wrong impression with Martin
I know he doesn't mix much but he's no snob
The weekend I got out of remand home
He'd got Uncle Ruby to find me this job
And back at my Nan's he'd repainted my room
And bought me a brand new carpet
There was all me old records and books on a shelf
And a secondhand telly from the market
You can get a bit hard when you've been inside
But I hugged the old bastard and I almost cried
Cos no-one ever had a brother like Martin
No-one ever had a brother like him
Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | 18 May 2006 at 21:04
I walked out onto the stage and started to sing...
Posted by: flute | 18 May 2006 at 21:09
Peter Sellars asked to have played at his funeral one song he really hated - "In The Mood" by Glen Miller, perhaps so he could give Spike and Harry one last laugh.
"I'm Not Like Everyone Else" would be a good Kinks funeral song.
Incidentally Ray Davies has just released his first ever solo album.
Posted by: Nabakov | 18 May 2006 at 23:03
I'd want the Benny Hill theme played at my funeral, especially if I knew that elderly bald men would be present.
Posted by: Clem Snide | 19 May 2006 at 00:45
Ideal sendoff: Fancy dress funeral and open bar while Sam & Dave's 'Hold On I'm Coming' plays on continuous loop, casket of white plaster so friends can write messages on it like on a broken arm, and with the Mastercard symbol on the casket stern and a sign saying 'This funeral sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank'.
AGB: I hope your brother returns safe and sober from The Hunter.
Posted by: brownie | 19 May 2006 at 13:27
Ideal sendoff: Fancy dress funeral and open bar while Sam & Dave's 'Hold On I'm Coming' plays on continuous loop, casket of white plaster so friends can write messages on it like on a broken arm, and with the Mastercard symbol on the casket stern and a sign saying 'This funeral sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank'.
AGB: I hope your brother returns safe and sober from The Hunter.
Posted by: brownie | 19 May 2006 at 13:28
Dunno about Martin, FX, but I'd play side 2 of
Power in the Darkness at my wake.
A fabulous opening, Flutey, but it's the end of that first verse that gets me every time.
Perfick.
He's back now, Brownie.
Posted by: Tony.T | 19 May 2006 at 15:25
A tired blogger, home from a hard day at the coal face, corrects his HTML mistakes in the comments and puts on a record.
Ahhh, that's better.
Posted by: Tony.T | 19 May 2006 at 16:05
Tones - so its not "Glad to be Gay' or "2-4-6-8"?
I'm guessing Grey Cortina.
Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | 19 May 2006 at 21:03
Winter of '79
Man You never Saw
Better Decide Which Side You're On
Power In The Darkness
I remember seeing TRB on The Old Grey Whistle Test about twenty five years ago, maybe longer. Good show, that.
Posted by: Tony.T | 21 May 2006 at 22:07
There were some cretins in, I think, Liverpool, who asked for Everything I Do I Do It For You played at their father's funeral. This was the theme from a Robin Hood film, and the church played Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Riding Through The Glen by mistake. I think they even went to court over it.
Posted by: Harry Hutton | 22 May 2006 at 07:35
It's funny how people get upset about things like that. Were it me I'd be laughing like an idiot. I once went to a wedding where the groom had his name spelled wrong on the dinner menu. There was hell to pay. Surely a misprinted menu has the better value.
Posted by: Tony.T | 22 May 2006 at 16:46
People Who Died by Jim Carroll. I like the in-your-face delivery. Would love to see the faces of the mourners when that cranks up.
The lyrics are a bit of a laff. First time I’ve ever read them…
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/thebasketballdiaries/peoplewhodied.htm
"Hey," Herbie said, "Tony, can you fly?"
But Tony couldn't fly, Tony died.
Let that be a warning to you, Big Tone.
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 23 May 2006 at 11:54
Remind me not to visit the Boy's Club roof.
Posted by: Tony.T | 23 May 2006 at 15:23