Songs by The Beatles and Queen are among the most requested by people who are about to die.
Marie Curie, an end-of-life care U.K. charity, surveyed over a thousand people who revealed what their loved ones wanted to hear, and The Beatles' "Hey Jude" was number-nine followed by Queen's "These Are the Days of Our Lives" at 10.
Frank Sinatra's "My Way" topped the “Music for the End” playlist.
Dr. Tracey McConnell, a music therapy expert, says, "Terminal illness, pain and the fear of dying can result in feelings of powerlessness and isolation, even with close family and friends [around]. Music can help people express their feelings and make them feel better, whatever their health or emotional situation.”
84% of the participants — friends and family members of the deceased — claim music relaxed and calmed their loved ones during their last moments.
And 61% said music helped ease anxiety and emotional distress for them as well.
The complete Top 10 is as follows:
- "My Way" – Frank Sinatra
- "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston
- "(Simply) The Best" – Tina Turner
- "Over the Rainbow" – Judy Garland
- "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" – Cyndi Lauper
- "Angels" – Robbie Williams
- "What a Wonderful World" – Louis Armstrong
- "Beautiful" – Christina Aguilera
- "Hey Jude" – The Beatles
- "These Are the Days of Our Lives" – Queen
Here are some others that could work:
- "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Eclipse" - Pink Floyd
- "The Long and Winding Road" and "Let It Be" - The Beatles
- "Keep Me in Your Heart" - Warren Zevon
- "Last Kiss" - Pearl Jam
- "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor
- "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
- "Funeral for a Friend" - Elton John
- "Live and Let Die" - Paul McCartney
- "Isn't Life Strange" and "The Other Side of Life" - The Moody Blues
- "Surrender," "Heaven Tonight" and "On Top of the World" - Cheap Trick
- "Spirit in the Sky" - Norman Greenbaum
- "Living in the Material World" - George Harrison
- "The Rising" - Bruce Springsteen
- "Your Time Is Gonna Come," "In My Time of Dying" and "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin