11 Songs Where the Focus is on the Funeral ⚰️ features songs courtesy of Lukas Graham, Miguel, Phoebe Bridgers, PUP, and Slipknot. 

“Bury my heart six feet under, throw us a funeral,” Zara Larsson sings on “Funeral,” the unlucky 13^th song from her debut album, So Good from 2017.  As for nothing, nowhere, well, he has his own take on a funeral in his song “Funeral Fantasy” (Reaper, 2017): “So what if I died, would you even cry? / Would you weep, would you keep it all inside? / Would you reminisce back on my life? / Would you forgive me for all of my lies.” While the hook is hypothetical, death is inevitable for everyone, and doesn’t everyone indeed “Fantasize their funeral” at some point [Note: not necessarily in an unhealthy manner mind you]?

If you were expecting this particular playlist to be upbeat, you might not be totally disappointed. 11 SONGS WHERE THE FOCUS IS ON THE FUNERAL ⚰️doesn’t sound particularly comforting mind you, but not every song makes the sad occasion unbearable, such as Miguel who opts for pleasure (“Funeral”) or Lukas Graham (“Funeral”) who takes ‘celebration of life’ to heart with partying.  Still, there are dark and unsettling moments, such as “A Liars Funeral” by Slipknot, or the depressed tone of “Funeral” by Phoebe Bridgers.  But even with the pessimism presented by PUP on “See You at Your Funeral” from their 2019 album, Morbid Stuff, it’s enjoyable…

By the way, wouldn’t be the first time we did a playlist associated with death, sigh. See 11 Songs About Burial and or the Cemetery (2018), 11 Songs About Painful, Torturous, or Trouble Ways to Die (2018), and  Simply Morbid: 16 Songs Referencing Various Causes of Death (2017). Pretty dark stuff I suppose… Anyways, without further ado, here are 11 SONGS WHERE THE FOCUS IS ON THE FUNERAL!

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1. Miguel, “Funeral”

Funeral [Single] • RCA • 2019

“Send my regards to the mother and father / ‘Cause somebody’s daughter I just fucking slayed…” Grammy-winning urban contemporary artist Miguel manages to transform a funeral into a sexed-up happening on his brief, risqué single, “Funeral”. Throughout his career, Miguel has kept things quite sexual, from the likes of “Arch & Point” (Kaleidoscope Dream) to almost the entirety of his 2015 LP, WILDHEART.  “Funeral” kicks off the with aforementioned chorus, which continues, “Blood on the carpet, it came from my heart / Once I start, I can’t stop it, and now we all pray.”

Though “Funeral” is only a modest two-minutes-and-fifteen seconds in duration, it’s still enough time for Miguel to be freaky. He focuses on her private parts and what he’s ‘doing’ with his own…  On the first verse, the sex is real, as he asserts, “And that pussy ain’t a rental,” later asking his victim lover, “Do you feel me in your mental? / I’m fucking drilling in your dental.”  He continues to ride the funeral wave on the second verse, referencing the coroner, and stating, “She was dead on arrival.” Beyond super sexed-up lyrics, the production is notable. There are dark synths, heavily distorted vocals, and expectedly, bass-heavy drum programming, sure to cause the trunk to rattle.  Safe to say, Miguel is true to himself on “Funeral.”

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2. Slipknot, “A Liar’s Funeral”

We Are Not Your Kind • Roadrunner • 2019

In 2019, nü metal collective Slipknot returned after a five-year hiatus.  Yep, FIVE LONG YEARS is how long fans had to wait for the Grammy-winning Nü metal collective to release their sixth studio album, We Are Not Your Kind.  Of course, long hiatuses between studio albums have become the norm for the band, with the longest gap occurring between the 2008 standout, All Hope is Gone, and 2014’s .5: The Gray Chapter. Thankfully, We Are Not Your Kind is a brilliant album, and the song at hand, “A Liars Funeral,” is nothing too shabby itself.

“A season at an end / A harvest of seclusion and regret / The burning can begin / A period of ash is what you get…” Well now…  Despite the dark, unsettling lyrics of the first verse, “A Liars Funeral” begins understated.  This of course happens prior to the energetic refrain comprised of two iterations of the word, “LIAR.” The second verse is much like the first, showcasing restraint, while still packing a punch lyrically – “December in the summer kills the heart / Your hate is no surprise / I guess I have to die to play my part.” Damn!

The third verse, preceding the ‘chorus’ (contrasting the refrain FYI), is truer to form, characterized by that Slipknot attitude. Here, the said “liar” BURNS…  As for the chorus, well, according to Slipknot, “Never trust the one beside you…” Appearing as the seventh song on We Are Not Your Kind, “A Liar’s Funeral” ultimately exhibits the consistency that can be found throughout the LP.

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3. Ruston Kelly, “At Your Funeral”

Dirt Emo Vol. 1 • Rounder • 2019

“And at your funeral / I will sing the requiem / I’d offer you my hand / It would hurt too much to watch you die.” Ruston Kelly is quite the unique musician to say the least.  The singer/songwriter also happens to be the husband of a Grammy-winning country superstar, Kacey Musgraves.  Kelly himself first caught my attention in 2018 prior to the release of his debut album, Dying Star.  What is the song that piqued my interest you ask? Why, it’s none other than “Asshole (Demo)”.  Focusing on the song at hand, Kelly opts for a cover on “At Your Funeral,” which appears on the brief, eight-song project, Dirt Emo Vol. 1.

If you didn’t instantly recognize the aforementioned lyrics that appear on the chorus of “At Your Funeral,” they come courtesy of Saves the Day.  While Ruston Kelly does a nice job of making the 2001 song (Stay What You Are) his own nearly 20 years later, the band definitely deserves credit for the source material. The dark vibe is apparent early on as Kelly delivers the hypothetical, potentially deadly lyrics that just might lead to the funeral:

“If I flooded out your house, do you think you’d make it out?
Or would you burn up before the water filled your lungs?”

Of course, the second verse has some of my personal favorite lyrics:

“And you can bet that when we mourn the death of you that
They’ll lay me on my dinner table, I will be the pig
With the apple in my mouth, the food that celebrates your end.”

Sigh, it should also be noted, Kelly covers blink-182 (“Dammit”) and My Chemical Romance (“Helena”) on Dirt Emo Vol. 1.

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4. PUP, “See You at Your Funeral”

Morbid Stuff • PUP / Rise • 2019

“I hope you’re doing fine on your own / ‘Cause after everything we’ve been through / You better hope / You’ll find someone, and you’ll try, BUT YOU WON’T…” Hmm, I sense some bitterness involving matters of the heart!  Hosting such bitterness is Canadian rock band PUP, who make their first appearance on The Musical Hype. The song at hand from the four-member collective, “See You at Your Funeral,” appears on their 2019 LP, Morbid Stuff.  Morbid Stuff indeed with talks of a funeral!

As the aforementioned chorus suggests, Stefan Babcock is not feeling his ex-lover whatsoever.  The ‘hope’ that he feels is scorn and utter resentment.  He had his heart broken, evidenced on the first verse when he sings, “The days blur into one / And I float around the edge of them / Searching for something / That’ll make me feel alive again.” Damn Stefan.  The second verse is even more ‘colorful’, as Babcock mentions meeting his ex “in the produce section” while trying to cure his brokenness through a vegan lifestyle.  He sings, “I asked you how you’ve been / Not that it’s any of my business / But you know me, I’ve always been a little masochistic.” Hmm…

The reference to the funeral actually doesn’t occur until the bridge of the song.  Here, of course, he ultimately wishes the worst for her – DEATH! That said, he also wants to die too – that’s so EMO!

“I hope somehow I never see you again
And if I do, it’s at your funeral or better yet,
I hope the world explodes
I hope that we all die
We can watch the highlights in hell
I hope they’re televised.”

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5. Matt Maeson, “Bank on the Funeral”

Bank on the Funeral • Atlantic • 2019

“Better dead than in hell.” Hmm, that is quite the thought-provoking line isn’t it? The thing is, when it comes to death, many people believe that your soul lives on eternally either in heaven or in hell – an afterlife. In this isolated moment from the chorus of “Bank on the Funeral,” the title track of singer/songwriter Matt Maeson’s 2019 album, the afterlife seems to be removed from the equation. Death is ultimately the end, yet it’s better than hell, which is metaphorical as opposed to literal.

The spiritual aspects of “Bank on the Funeral” are likely a product of Maeson’s religious background (pastor’s kid!), which is described by a press release for the project:

The Chesapeake Bay, VA-native grew up on tour, traveling and performing with his parents’ prison ministry at maximum-security penitentiaries across America. His experiences – which include winning over crowds of naked women and Hells Angels at the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota – inspired him to begin writing songs, spare and powerful confessionals infused with additional strength via his raw, soulful vocal approach.

Focusing on the song specifically, Truly, it’s the lyrics that make “Bank on the Funeral” a gem for Matt Maeson.  There are so many beautifully penned, powerful moments.  On the first verse, he sings, “I chipped from my heaven’s sin / Until I stole everything that I made.” On the second verse, he delivers one of my favorite lyrics: “The salt was in other words / More flavorful in those days.”  At the beginning of both verses, he emphasizes the title.  On the chorus, where this passage’s initial excerpted lyric comes from, he wows:

“And this millstone is heavy as hell
And I can’t see so well
And I still feel the swell
And my hands and my feet are expelled
BETTER DEAD THAN IN HELL
And again, with the swell.”

The wordplay coupled with the emotions make this a brilliant album closer.

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6. Charlotte Day Wilson, “Funeral”

Stone Woman (EP) • Charlotte Day Wilson • 2018

“I went to a funeral, so I could feel something / Don’t know what I’m living for, if I don’t feel nothing.” Yeah, with a funeral-themed playlist, there’s really no way to avoid some reference to, you know, D-E-A-T-H.  In this case, the funeral that standout Toronto R&B singer Charlotte Day Wilson is experiencing isn’t literal but does involve the end of a relationship.  The lyrics from the first verse continue, “And where are you without me now? I see it in my head / Getting high my nature girl, I wish you all the best.” The highlight, simply entitled “Funeral” from the 2018 EP, Stone Woman, depicts the emotions the singer feels after breaking up with a girlfriend.

While Charlotte Day Wilson is poetic in her approach, she’s also honest, wearing her emotions on her sleeves.  Of course, vocally, she’s absolutely stunning – refined, soulful, and compelling to the nth degree. On the chorus, she’s straightforward regarding the pain – “Oh, anytime I think of you, I’m empty hearted.”  That said, on the second verse, she seems to be closing the door, asserting, “Here’s a final eulogy, for us in hour name.”  Beyond the high-flying vocals and emotionally charged lyrics, the production and sound of “Funeral” is gorgeous with its use of keyboards (acoustic and electric), prominent bass, and the terrific inclusion of saxophone.

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7. AUGUST 08, “Funeral”

FATHER • Red Bull / 88rising Music • 2018

“Don’t say it at my funeral / Say it to me now / Don’t say it at my funeral / Say it to me now.” Those are the moving words that R&B artist AUGUST 08 sings on “Funeral”, a single from his 2018 mini-album, FATHER.  AUGUST 08 first came onto my radar thanks to Rich Brian, appearing on the superb closing cut of Brian’s 2018 album, Amen (“Arizona”).

“Funeral” commences mysteriously, beginning with random sound effects.  Soon enough, the record grows stable, and those anointed, nuanced vocals get to work. Once AUGUST 08 begins singing, the sheer beauty of his voice is awe-inspiring. His tone is definitely enviable.  He delivers a balanced performance, never over- nor under-singing. The aforementioned simple, but thoughtful chorus is the centerpiece, finding him singing easily, yet convincing. Overall, the relatively simple “Funeral” is thoughtfully penned and magnificently performed.

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8. Reaper (LA), “Funeral”

Reaper (EP) • 2017 Independent • 2017

“Took my throne in a mausoleum / People throats talking carpe diem / Yeah, we did that / Crew be doing crew, yeah we live that.” Okay… If you like vibes, then you’ll love the vibe that “Funeral” gives off.  Like so many of the songs on this playlist, the association with death is inescapable.  That said, give this darker, electronic, hip-hop-infused joint by Reaper (real name JJ Scheff) a chance – you won’t regret it.  “Funeral” hails from the four-song, 2017 EP, Reaper.

The biggest attraction of “Funeral,” just to reiterate, is the vibe and sound of the record.  JJ Scheff does a superb job in the production department, with a rich electronic palette that’s epic AF. That said, there are some standout lyrics, such as the aforementioned ones that bring in elements associated with death, as well as bring swagger into the mix too.  Prior to the mausoleum line, Reaper also references the soul, graves, and sinners, while later he gets raw, definitely embracing hip-hop and the cockiness, confidence, and swagger associated with it:

“I don’t give a fuck about your bitch, dawg
Maybe she complains you hit that shit wrong
I be in this for nothing but hit songs
Take a couple notes she like her shit raw…”

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9. Phoebe Bridgers, “Funeral”

Stranger in the Alps • Dead Oceans • 2017

“Jesus Christ, I’m so blue all the time / And that’s just how I feel / Always have, and I always will.” Well, that’s depressing and quite hopeless Phoebe Bridgers. Bridgers is a singer/songwriter who released her debut album, Stranger in the Alps, in September 2017.  That’s where the song at hand, “Funeral”, appears as the third track.  Even with its sad lyrics, “Funeral” is amazingly set in a major key.

The aforementioned chorus is just one moment of sadness that occurs on “Funeral.” Things start off troubling as Phoebe Bridgers mentions singing at a funeral “For a kid a year older than me…” Ugh… Beyond that devastation on the first verse, on the second, she shares a disturbing dream “Where I’m screaming underwater / While my friends are waving from the shore…”

There are two more verses that mention unfortunate scenarios but also show a glimmer of ‘hope’ – “Wishing I was someone else, feeling sorry for myself / When I remembered someone’s kid is dead.” Maybe ‘hope’ isn’t quite the right word…

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10. Lukas Graham, “Funeral”

Lukas Graham • Warner • 2016

“Once I was seven years old my mommy told me / Go make some friends or you’ll be lonely / Once I was seven years old.” Sigh, Danish collective Lukas Graham, led by charismatic lead vocalist Lukas Graham Forchhammer, are best known for one megahit: “7 Years”.  In 2016, you couldn’t go anywhere and NOT hear the gem.  This definitely helped build the band’s case in the United States, releasing their self-titled album.  Besides “7 Years,” Lukas Graham had other worthwhile attractions including “Mama Said”, “Drunk in the Morning”, and our song at hand, “Funeral,” which appears as the penultimate song.

“Everyone, welcome to my funeral / Everyone I know better be wasted / You know I would pour one up / ‘Cause the way I lived, it was amazing.” Interesting take on morbidity to say the least there Mr. Forchhammer! “Funeral,” much like the aforementioned “7 Years,” finds Forchhammer looking toward the future.  On “7 Years,” towards the end, we hear the line, “Soon I’ll be 60 years old,” which is a change from the focus on the past that occurred at the beginning of the song. Here, on “Funeral,” he fast forwards, making his morbidity sound celebratory.  Why? He’s celebrating the awesome, happy life he lived as opposed to dwelling on the typically sad occasion that is death.

“You’re all on my tab
Bartenders pour out the whiskeys on me
And don’t be so sad
‘Cause I lived this good.”
Cheer’s to that Lukas!

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11. Phantogram, “Funeral Pyre”

Three • Republic • 2016

Question: Can you guess why the 2016 Phantogram album is entitled Three? Likely because it is the duo’s (Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter) third studio album.  Three arrived three years after Voices (2013), which features the terrific gem “Bill Murray”, which samples a gorgeous The Chi-Lites classic, “The Coldest Days of My Life”.  Unfortunately, this is not the place to go gaga over that particular song as it has nothing to do with a funeral.  Bummer.  That said, Three does give us opener “Funeral Pyre,” which is certainly intriguing.

Produced by Ricky Reed, John Hill, and Carter, musically, “Funeral Pyre” is quite the listening experience.  There are guitars, synths, and pummeling drums – epic stuff.  Of course, Sarah Barthel graces us with expressive (and distorted) vocals, which perfectly fit the coarse and intense nature of this album opener.  Lyrically, there are only a few words throughout, making the feel, sound, and ‘vibe’ of this song carry more weight than the words being sung.  There are some key lines, such as, “Light in the sky” which appears at the beginning and end lyrically, as well as the titular passage, “My funeral pyre / My ship of fire / As it sinks, I rise.”

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11 SONGS WHERE THE FOCUS IS ON THE FUNERAL [📷: 88rising Music, 2017 Independent, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Charlotte Day Wilson, Dead Oceans, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabayx, PUP, RCA, Red Bull, Republic, Rise, Roadrunner, Rounder, Warner]

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