James Blunt Tops Funeral Song Poll

James Blunt has topped a poll of songs most played at funerals.

The Bereavement Register carried out a survey of 5,000 funerals and found that Blunt’s track ‘Goodbye My Lover’ topped the macabre chart.

Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’ is at two and U2’s ‘With Or Without You’ clocked in at 7.

Surprisingly S Club 7’s ‘Reach For The Stars’ came in at 20, and ‘I’ve Had The Time of my Life’ from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack came in at three.

Mark Roy from the Bereavement Register, said:  "The top 20 really shows how far we have come in terms of saying good-bye. Gone are the dirges of yore, instead we are seeing contemporary music that is easier to relate to.

"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.”

The full top twenty is as follows:

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 from 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 ‘Knocking 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 Forever’ - Fame
20 ‘Reach for the Stars’ - S Club 7