[Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Spotlight on Requiems and Dirges Praying for Peace
In recent years, the term “music funeral” has become more common, and it’s increasingly popular to play music at funerals to honor the deceased.
It’s also said that more people are choosing songs in advance during their lifetime, entrusting their feelings to music as a way to express gratitude and love.
In this article, we introduce several recommended songs for remembering the departed and for use as funeral background music.
We’ve gathered a variety of pieces—songs that express feelings for the deceased, songs that convey gratitude for the past, classical works including requiems, and calm J-pop—so please use this as a reference.
- Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
- [Thank-You Song] A song to convey your feelings of “thank you” to someone special
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
- Masterpieces of requiems and dirges
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
- Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart
- A gentle song. A classic that calms the heart. A song that makes you feel kind.
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- A nostalgic song—a timeless classic that somehow feels familiar and touches the heart.
- [Standard] A compilation of popular songs recommended for award ceremonies [Classical / BGM]
- [For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
[Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Also Featuring Requiems and Laments Praying for Peace (41–50)
FlowerORANGE RANGE
ORANGE RANGE is a band strongly associated with images of Okinawa, summer, and the sea.
Many of their signature songs, like Shanghai Honey and Locomotion, are real hype-raisers.
In stark contrast to that image, however, Hana is a heartbreaking ballad sung for someone who is no longer here.
The song was also the theme for the 2004 film Be with You, which is likely how many people know it.
It’s a number that makes you realize that the everyday moments you once took for granted were actually precious time once they’re gone.
[Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Also Featuring Requiems and Laments Praying for Peace (51–60)
Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach
This piece is an arrangement of the “Air” from the second movement of J.
S.
Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.
3.
The G string refers to the lowest of the violin’s four strings, and because the piece can be performed entirely on this string, it is known as “Air on the G String.” It is one of the most enduringly popular masterpieces in classical music, frequently heard in films, dramas, and television programs.
With its lyrical melody and festive atmosphere, it is a perfect choice for moments of praying for eternal peace and rest.
Amazing GraceJohn Newton
Perhaps everyone has heard this melody at least once—the kind that feels as if it refines the soul.
This hymn’s lyrics were written by the English clergyman John Newton.
They describe the devout state of mind he reached after witnessing a miraculous event aboard a ship returning to England from the triangular trade with Africa, back when he was a sailor.
Because it expresses gratitude for God’s salvation and grace, it is also a fitting piece for praying for peace after death.
I want to see you.Sawada Chikako
Amid the many songs that are vaguely labeled as “requiems,” these lyrics vividly and directly evoke the loss of a loved one.
Sung as if remembering and speaking to the departed, paired with Chikaco Sawada’s powerful yet shadowed vocals, it’s a song that has surely brought many listeners to tears.
When you lose someone precious, you may fall into despair—but when you’re ready to overcome it, stand up again, and face forward, this song gently stays by your heart.
Spirit Boat (Shoro Nagashi)gureepu
This is a song written by singer-songwriter Masashi Sada, who was a member of the folk duo Grape, in memory of a cousin who died in a water-related accident.
Shoro-nagashi is a memorial ceremony held in Nagasaki during Obon to honor the deceased.
The lyrics, written from the perspective of the cousin’s lover, are understated, yet each word is unbearably poignant, conveying a powerful sense of mourning for a beloved person.
formulaOkazaki Taiiku
Okazaki Taiiku has lots of catchy, humorous songs that make anyone want to sing along.
But did you know his mellow ballads are also fantastic? In fact, many of them are so moving they might make you think that’s his true essence.
The song “Shiki” is included as the final track on his second album, “XXL,” released in 2017.
It’s a song that seems packed with various meanings, and it really makes you think when you listen to it.
Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu
Another signature song by Kyu Sakamoto, who sang the internationally popular “Ue o Muite Arukō,” known overseas as “Sukiyaki,” is “Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o.” Originally the theme song of a musical of the same name from 1960, it was covered by Kyu Sakamoto in 1963.
This classic, widely known not only among older listeners but also younger generations, is one of Japan’s representative songs and is also favored as music to play at memorial services.
Its calm melody that preserves a solemn atmosphere, Kyu Sakamoto’s gentle voice, and the star-themed lyrics make it a perfect choice for bidding farewell to the deceased.
