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There’s a morbidly fascinating question we’ve all asked ourselves at some point – what song will play us out when our time finally comes?
Well, good news (if you can call it that): thanks to research by the charity Marie Curie, we now have a playlist of the most popular songs chosen by the terminally ill for their final moments.
It’s an eclectic mix, ranging from the wistful croon of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” to the undeniably fun (and possibly confusing) choice of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Yes, you read that right – one of the top songs to accompany someone’s final breath is a tune that could easily be the anthem of a wild bachelorette party. Because why not go out with a bang, right? It’s the ultimate expression of life’s final middle finger to seriousness.
The list also features some less eyebrow-raising choices: Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” (cue the waterworks), Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” (a bittersweet serenade to everything beautiful about this planet), and Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow,” which might have you wondering if there’s a special version of the afterlife where we all become munchkins.
But the real question is: *what song would you choose?* Let’s face it, there’s something deeply personal about the soundtrack of your own demise. If you’ve lived a life filled with grace and love, perhaps “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera will do the trick. Or, if you’ve spent your final moments debating whether pineapple belongs on pizza, maybe Queen’s “These Are the Days of Our Lives” will sum up your fleeting existential crisis.
The most popular choice? Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” which, of course, implies a dignified reflection on a life lived exactly as one wished. But let’s be honest, how many of us could really pull that off without sounding like we’re justifying every bad decision we’ve ever made? “Yes, I did eat that whole pizza by myself... but I did it my way!”
Of course, music at the end of life does more than just set the scene for a dramatic exit. According to Dr. Tracey McConnell, a music therapy expert, it helps people express their feelings, reduce anxiety, and find comfort in their final moments.
So, while “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” might seem like an odd choice, maybe it’s not so crazy after all – maybe it’s a reminder to celebrate life’s joy, even as it slips away.
The real surprise here might be the absence of certain tracks. Where’s “Stairway to Heaven”? No “Highway to Hell”? You’d think someone out there would appreciate the irony. And yet, we’re left with Robbie Williams’ “Angels,” which I imagine could provoke some awkward questions if things don’t go exactly as planned in the afterlife.
All jokes aside, these songs show that, in our final moments, we’re not looking for grand philosophical musings or deep reflections – we just want something familiar, something that brings comfort. Whether it’s nostalgia, a melody that lifts our spirits, or simply a song that reminds us we’ve lived – and loved – every moment.
So, the next time you’re curating your “End of Life” playlist (because that’s totally a thing people do now), remember: whether you choose to dance off this mortal coil to Sinatra’s soulful croon or Lauper’s upbeat anthem, it’s not really about the song. It’s about how you lived the music of your life – and if you did it your way, well, that’s the greatest hit of all.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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