James Blunt
© AFP/Getty images/File Evan AgostiniLONDON (AFP) - James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover" is now Britain's most requested song at funerals and services of remembrance, followed by Robbie Williams' "Angels" and "Dirty Dancing" theme "I've Had The Time Of My Life" at three.
Some 51 percent of people request a specific song at their funeral while 79 percent have discussed the songs they would like to be remembered by, the survey of 5,000 people by The Bereavement Register, found.
"Gone are the dirges of yore, instead we are seeing contemporary music that is easier to relate to," said Monday Mark Roy, who founded the service which removes personal details of people who have died from companies' databases.
"Everyone has a favourite song that means something very special to them, often connected to a particular time and place.
"When the song is played this can be a very emotive reminder of that person and a reassurance in our time of grief."
But the editor of BBC Music Magazine, Oliver Condy, mourned the passing of more classical tributes, which he said had a "tailor-made" back catalogue of appropriate pieces.
"People want something they can really relate to. They've chosen pop songs that appear to have something to do with death but aren't," he added.
The top 20:
1 "Goodbye My Lover" -- James Blunt
2 "Angels" -- Robbie Williams
3 "I've Had The Time Of My Life" -- Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley
4 "Wind Beneath My Wings" -- Bette Midler
5 "Pie Jesu" -- Requiem
6 "Candle In The Wind" -- Elton John
7 "With Or Without You" -- U2
8 "Tears In Heaven" -- Eric Clapton
9 "Every Breath You Take" -- The Police
10 "Unchained Melody" -- Righteous Brothers
11 "Danny Boy" -- Daniel O'Donnell
12 "Time To Say Goodbye" -- Sarah Brightman
13 "What A Wonderful World" -- Louis Armstrong
14 "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" -- Bob Dylan
15 "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" -- Aerosmith
16 "Bright Eyes" -- Simon and Garfunkel
17 "Eternal Flame" -- The Bangles
18 "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" -- Bon Jovi
19 "I Want To Live For Ever" -- Fame
20 "Reach For The Stars" -- S Club 7.
©AFP