[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 someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- [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)
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.
[Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Also Featuring Requiems and Laments Praying for Peace (51–60)
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.
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.
Ave MariaFranz Schubert
Known as “Ave Maria,” this piece was originally titled “Ellen’s Third Song” and set to a poem from Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake.
It depicts a scene in which the heroine, pursued by the king, appeals to the Virgin Mary for salvation.
Although it did not originally carry religious meaning, it later came to be sung with the Latin liturgical text.
Its graceful, soaring melody is truly soothing to the heart.
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.
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.
No regrets in my lifeIshihara Yūjirō
This was Yujiro Ishihara’s final single released during his lifetime.
A legendary actor and singer of the Showa era, he continues to be loved by many even as times change.
In 2004, the song drew attention when it was used as the ending theme of the final episode of the drama “Otouto,” written by his older brother, Shintaro Ishihara.
The title and lyrics seem to capture Ishihara’s manly way of life: “Whether long or short, whether wandering back and forth, whether a dream or reality, I have no regrets about my life.” It’s a song to be delivered with a sense of honoring someone who lived with strength.
