45 Memorial Slideshow Songs for a Funeral or Celebration of Life

What is a good song for a memorial slideshow?

The most-used memorial slideshow songs are "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, "In My Life" by The Beatles and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. They are gentle, familiar and warm rather than heavy, which suits a room of people looking at happy photos. For a younger person, "See You Again" or "Memories" by Maroon 5 often fit better. The best choice is usually a song they loved.

Classic memorial slideshow songs

1. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong: gratitude for a life well lived.
2. "Unforgettable", Nat King Cole: a tender classic for an older generation.
3. "In My Life", The Beatles: the people and places that made them.
4. "The Way We Were", Barbra Streisand: memories in soft focus.
5. "Time After Time", Cyndi Lauper: a promise to always be there.
6. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler: for the person who held everyone up.
7. "You Raise Me Up", Josh Groban: thanks to someone who lifted others.
8. "I Will Remember You", Sarah McLachlan: about keeping someone in your memory.
9. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: gentle and hopeful.
10. "My Way", Frank Sinatra: for someone who lived on their own terms.

Modern memorial slideshow songs

11. "Supermarket Flowers", Ed Sheeran: written about his grandmother, told from his mother's side.
12. "See You Again", Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth: a tribute to a friend who became family.
13. "Memories", Maroon 5: written after the death of the band's longtime manager.
14. "Photograph", Ed Sheeran: memories kept in pictures.
15. "A Sky Full of Stars", Coldplay: bright and uplifting for the end of a slideshow.
16. "Fix You", Coldplay: comfort for the people left behind.
17. "Chasing Cars", Snow Patrol: quiet and close.
18. "If Tomorrow Never Comes", Garth Brooks or Ronan Keating: about making sure they knew they were loved.
19. "Unwritten", Natasha Bedingfield: for a life that was full of beginnings.
20. "The Prayer", Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion: soaring and peaceful.

Country memorial slideshow songs

21. "Go Rest High on That Mountain", Vince Gill: the country funeral standard.
22. "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", Justin Moore: wishing for one more visit.
23. "Drink a Beer", Luke Bryan: remembering someone by the water.
24. "Who You'd Be Today", Kenny Chesney: for someone who left too young.
25. "Remember When", Alan Jackson: a whole life in one song, perfect for long slideshows.
26. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: the values they passed on.
27. "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw: a celebration of living fully.

Upbeat songs for a celebration of life slideshow

28. "Don't Stop Me Now", Queen: for someone who had the best time.
29. "Three Little Birds", Bob Marley: easy, warm reassurance.
30. "Here Comes the Sun", The Beatles: light after the hard days.
31. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", Green Day: bittersweet and grateful.
32. "Forever Young", Rod Stewart: a blessing that still fits.
33. "Spirit in the Sky", Norman Greenbaum: a joyful send-off.
34. "I Hope You Dance", Lee Ann Womack: the way they lived.

Faith songs for a memorial slideshow

35. "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", Chris Tomlin: the hymn with a modern chorus.
36. "I Can Only Imagine", MercyMe: wondering what heaven is like.
37. "Ave Maria", Schubert, often sung by Josh Groban or Andrea Bocelli.
38. "How Great Thou Art": powerful for a person of faith.
39. "Angel", Sarah McLachlan: gentle and comforting.

Instrumental songs for a longer slideshow

40. "Canon in D", Pachelbel: calm and familiar.
41. "Clair de lune", Debussy: soft piano.
42. "Gabriel's Oboe", Ennio Morricone: from The Mission, deeply moving.
43. "Nuvole bianche", Ludovico Einaudi: modern piano.
44. "Experience", Ludovico Einaudi: builds slowly to a big finish.
45. "Hallelujah", piano or cello versions: a reflective close.

Memorial slideshow songs by who you are honoring

For a mother

"Supermarket Flowers", "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "In My Daughter's Eyes". More in our list of funeral songs for mom.

For a father

"Dance with My Father", "The Living Years" and "My Way". See our funeral songs for dad.

For a husband or wife

"Unforgettable", "The Way We Were" and "If Tomorrow Never Comes".

For a son or a young person

"Who You'd Be Today", "See You Again" and "A Sky Full of Stars".

For a brother or friend

"Memories", "Drink a Beer" and "See You Again". See our songs about brothers and songs about losing a friend.

For a grandparent

"What a Wonderful World", "Remember When" and "Unforgettable". See our songs for grandpa.

How many songs do you need for a memorial slideshow?

At four to five seconds per photo, one three-minute song covers about 40 to 45 pictures. A slideshow of 120 to 150 photos needs three songs, about ten minutes in total, which is as long as most rooms can watch comfortably. Order the photos by age, then mark where each song should start so the mood changes with the decades: something light for childhood, something warm for the family years and something peaceful for the end.

Can you use any song in a memorial slideshow?

Playing a song at a private service is usually fine. Posting the slideshow online is different: YouTube, Facebook and Instagram often mute or block videos that use commercial recordings. If the family wants to share the tribute online, use licensed music, an instrumental from a royalty-free library, or a song written for the person, which you can share for personal use.

Where to play the slideshow

There are three common moments: on a quiet loop during the visitation, as a set piece during the service, or at the reception afterward, when people are more relaxed and talk about the photos. For a loop, choose gentle instrumentals so it does not become repetitive. For a set piece, pick the three songs above and ask everyone to sit.

Songs for a pet memorial slideshow

A slideshow for a beloved dog or cat deserves its own songs: "You've Got a Friend in Me", "Angel", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "I Will Remember You" are the most chosen. See our list of songs about dogs and our pet memorial song guide.

Tips for a memorial slideshow

• Ask the family for one song the person loved: it is usually the most moving choice.
• Start and end with faces: a portrait first, a smiling group photo last.
• Test it in the room: speakers, screen and volume, before guests arrive.
• Keep a copy offline on a laptop and a USB stick.

A song written about their life

Every song above is about someone else. A personalized memorial song tells their story: their name, where they grew up, the work they were proud of, the people they loved and the little habits everyone will miss. It is a song you can play with the slideshow and share online with the family. See our list of memorial service songs.

How to create a memorial song for the slideshow

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, piano ballad, country, gospel-inspired and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories, each with one concrete detail.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3 for the slideshow, a gift page the family can share and the lyrics as a PDF.

Honor their story in a song: create a memorial song and hear four previews for free.