A celebration of life ceremony is a beautiful way to honor the memory of a loved one, focusing on joy, gratitude, and remembrance rather than sorrow. One of the most meaningful elements of such a ceremony is music, which can evoke emotions, bring comfort, and create a deeply personal atmosphere.
Choosing the right celebration of life song can help reflect the life, personality, and legacy of the departed. Below, we provide an extensive list of 216 celebration of life songs across multiple genres, ensuring you can find the perfect tribute to make your loved one’s ceremony truly special.
Table of Contents
Classic & Timeless Celebration of Life Songs
Heartfelt & Emotional Tribute Songs
Inspirational & Uplifting Celebration of Life Songs
Rock Songs for a Celebration of Life
Country Songs for a Celebration of Life
Spiritual & Religious Songs for a Celebration of Life
Pop Songs for a Celebration of Life
R&B and Soul Songs for a Celebration of Life
Classical & Instrumental Songs for a Celebration of Life
Broadway & Movie Soundtrack Songs for a Celebration of Life
Alternative & Indie Songs for a Celebration of Life
Upbeat Celebration of Life Songs
Road Trip & Travel Songs for a Celebration of Life
Songs with a Strong Message of Hope & Love
Why Music is Essential in a Celebration of Life?
Music is often called the “language of the soul.” It provides comfort, tells a story, and connects people through shared emotions. In a celebration of life, the right song selection can:
- Bring back cherished memories
- Create a comforting and reflective atmosphere
- Honor the unique personality of your loved one
- Offer hope and healing to family and friends
How to Choose the Right Songs for a Celebration of Life?
When selecting music for the service, consider:
1. Your Loved One’s Musical Preferences
Did they love classical music, jazz, country, or pop? Choose songs that represent their style. Picking songs that they love to listen to will help to inject their own personality into the day.
2. The Message of the Lyrics
Some songs are uplifting, while others reflect loss and remembrance. Select lyrics that match the desired tone.
3. The Tone of the Ceremony
Is the celebration of life meant to be joyful, peaceful, reflective, or spiritual? Choose songs accordingly.
216 Best Celebration of Life Songs by Genre and Theme
We’ve categorized these songs into different themes to help you find the most fitting tribute for your loved ones Celebration of Life.
🎵 Classic & Timeless Celebration of Life Songs
These songs have stood the test of time and continue to be powerful choices for honoring loved ones.
- My Way – Frank Sinatra
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
- The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand
- Smile – Nat King Cole
- Yesterday – The Beatles
- In My Life – The Beatles
- Time to Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- Fields of Gold – Sting
Heartfelt & Emotional Tribute Songs
Songs that bring deep emotions and reflect love, loss, and remembrance.
- Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
- Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
- Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran
- You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
- I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan
- Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
- See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- Gone Too Soon – Michael Jackson
- I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
Inspirational & Uplifting Celebration of Life Songs
Music that offers hope and light in times of remembrance.
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw
- Angels Among Us – Alabama
- I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
- Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
- Fire and Rain – James Taylor
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- I Lived – OneRepublic
- Imagine – John Lennon
Rock Songs for a Celebration of Life
For those who loved classic and alternative rock.
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
- Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
- Let It Be – The Beatles
- November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
- Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
- Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult
- Blackbird – The Beatles
- Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
- Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
- With or Without You – U2
Country Songs for a Celebration of Life
Perfect for country music lovers.
- Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away – Justin Moore
- Drink a Beer – Luke Bryan
- Go Rest High on That Mountain – Vince Gill
- One More Day – Diamond Rio
- There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
- I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
- Temporary Home – Carrie Underwood
- Daddy’s Hands – Holly Dunn
- Angels in Waiting – Tammy Cochran
Spiritual & Religious Songs for a Celebration of Life
For those who want to include a faith-based element.
- Amazing Grace – Traditional
- Ave Maria – Schubert
- How Great Thou Art – Carrie Underwood
- Jealous of the Angels – Donna Taggart
- Take Me Home, Precious Lord – Elvis Presley
- I Can Only Imagine – MercyMe
- You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers
- The Old Rugged Cross – Alan Jackson
- Peace in the Valley – Elvis Presley
- When I Get Where I’m Going – Brad Paisley ft. Dolly Parton
Pop Songs for a Celebration of Life
For those who loved modern and classic pop hits.
- Someone Like You – Adele
- Fix You – Coldplay
- Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
- Because I Knew You – Wicked (Musical)
- Dancing in the Sky – Dani & Lizzy
- One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
- Memories – Maroon 5
- Angels – Robbie Williams
- Titanium (Acoustic Version) – David Guetta ft. Sia
- Slipping Through My Fingers – ABBA
R&B and Soul Songs for a Celebration of Life
Deep, emotional, and heartfelt music from R&B and soul artists.
- A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
- Stand by Me – Ben E. King
- I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
- Un-break My Heart – Toni Braxton
- It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday – Boyz II Men
- A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
- End of the Road – Boyz II Men
- Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne Warwick
- I’ll Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Classical & Instrumental Songs for a Celebration of Life
Beautiful orchestral and instrumental pieces.
- Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy
- Adagio for Strings – Samuel Barber
- Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
- The Lark Ascending – Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Gymnopédie No.1 – Erik Satie
- Moonlight Sonata – Ludwig van Beethoven
- Requiem – Gabriel Fauré
- Spiegel im Spiegel – Arvo Pärt
- Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 – Frédéric Chopin
- Air on the G String – Johann Sebastian Bach
Broadway & Movie Soundtrack Songs for a Celebration of Life
For those who loved theatre and film.
- For Good – Wicked (Musical)
- You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins (Tarzan)
- Into the West – Annie Lennox (The Lord of the Rings)
- My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion (Titanic)
- Somewhere – West Side Story
- Remember Me – Coco (Disney)
- When She Loved Me – Sarah McLachlan (Toy Story 2)
- A Million Dreams – The Greatest Showman
- The Rose – Bette Midler (The Rose)
- Never Enough – The Greatest Showman
Alternative & Indie Songs for a Celebration of Life
For those who preferred indie and alternative music.
- Hurt – Johnny Cash
- Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
- The Night We Met – Lord Huron
- Youth – Daughter
- Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Acoustic) – Green Day
- I Will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
- Holocene – Bon Iver
- The Scientist – Coldplay
- All I Want – Kodaline
- Say Something – A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
Upbeat Celebration of Life Songs
For those who want to celebrate a vibrant and joyful life, we have created a list of upbeat Celebration of Life songs. Upbeat songs are great songs to play at a Celebration of Life to create an uplifting and happy atmosphere. Below are some of the most popular upbeat celebration of life songs.
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Celebration – Kool & The Gang
- I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- Good Life – OneRepublic
- Wake Me Up – Avicii
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and The Waves
- Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
- Best Day of My Life – American Authors
Jazz & Blues Celebration of Life Songs
Jazz and Blues celebration of life songs can also create an upbeat and uplifting atmosphere due to the fact that many blues songs have a high beat and quick tempo. These songs are perfect for those who were passionate about this genre of music and is a great way to honor their memory.
- At Last – Etta James
- Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
- Blue Skies – Ella Fitzgerald
- Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
- Summertime – Billie Holiday
- As Time Goes By – Louis Armstrong
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
- Feeling Good – Nina Simone
- Misty – Ella Fitzgerald
- Take Five – Dave Brubeck
Road Trip & Travel Songs for a Celebration of Life
If your loved one used to love traveling the world or going on road trips, we have put together some of the best travel related songs to help you honor their memory.
- Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf
- On the Road Again – Willie Nelson
- Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
- Life is a Highway – Tom Cochrane
- The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
- Into the Great Wide Open – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
- Wide Open Spaces – Dixie Chicks
- Roam – The B-52s
- Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Songs with a Strong Message of Hope & Love
Songs that have a strong message of hope and love can help reflect your loved one’s passion and resilience in life. These songs can be the perfect way to honor a loved one’s memory.
- Love Lives On – Mallary Hope
- One Love – Bob Marley
- Imagine – John Lennon
- Keep Holding On – Avril Lavigne
- Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
- You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone
- Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
- Thank You for Being a Friend – Andrew Gold
- Count on Me – Bruno Mars
- Forever Love – Gary Barlow
Celebration Of Life Songs to Consider
- Only Time – Enya
- Angel – Sarah McLachlan
- One More Try – George Michael
- If Tomorrow Never Comes – Garth Brooks
- Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross & The Supremes
- Who You’d Be Today – Kenny Chesney
- The Dance – Garth Brooks
- Heaven Was Needing a Hero – Jo Dee Messina
- Life Without You – Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
- You Are the Reason – Calum Scott
- I’ll Fly Away – Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
- Meet You in the Middle – Jessie Ware
- The End of the Road – Jerry Lee Lewis
- Wildflowers – Tom Petty
- Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground – Willie Nelson
- Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips
- Daddy’s Little Girl – Michael Bolton
- You Are My Sunshine – Johnny Cash
- Somewhere I Belong – Linkin Park
- By Your Side – Sade
- We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn
- I Remember You – Skid Row
- Bright Eyes – Art Garfunkel
- Stay With Me – Sam Smith
- The Good Old Days – Macklemore
- Where the Streets Have No Name – U2
20 Upbeat Celebration of Life Songs In 2025
We have included some of the best upbeat songs for 2025. These upbeat songs are perfect for anyone hoping to create an uplifting atmosphere at a Celebration of Life.
- 178. Good Life – OneRepublic
- 179. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and The Waves
- 180. Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- 181. Happy – Pharrell Williams
- 181. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- 182. Best Day of My Life – American Authors
- 183. Dancing Queen – ABBA
- 184. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
- 185. Lovely Day – Bill Withers
- 186. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- 187. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- 188. Shut Up and Dance – WALK THE MOON
- 189. We Are Family – Sister Sledge
- 190. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
- 191. Firework – Katy Perry
- 192. High Hopes – Panic! At The Disco
- 193. Viva La Vida – Coldplay
- 194. On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
- 195. Brave – Sara Bareilles
- 196. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
20 Funny Celebration of Life Songs
Funny songs are a great way of injecting your loved one’s personality into the day. If your loved one had a dark sense of humor or enjoyed a joke then these songs could be perfect for their celebration of life.
- 197. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
- 198. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python
- 199. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
- 200. Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult
- 201. Highway to Hell – AC/DC
- 202. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
- 203. My Way – Frank Sinatra (for the ultimate dramatic farewell)
- 204. Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead – The Wizard of Oz
- 205. Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
- 206. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
- 207. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
- 208. Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck (for those who were done with work)
- 209. See You Later, Alligator – Bill Haley & His Comets
- 210. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones
- 211. Ghostbusters Theme – Ray Parker Jr.
- 212. If I Had $1,000,000 – Barenaked Ladies
- 213. The Final Countdown – Europe
- 214. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers (for those who always kept going)
- 215. Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
- 216. Weird Al Yankovic Medley – Because why not leave ‘em laughing?
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right music is a deeply personal choice. As you can see there are plenty of options to choose from. Picking the right song should reflect the atmosphere you want to create and your loved one’s personality.
I played Monty Python’s Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life at my own mother’s funeral because we were both huge Monty Python fans. Her favourite film was The Life Of Brian and we always enjoyed singing along to that song together. Choosing that song felt right on many levels as it has a deeply personal meaning for me but also I know my mother would of loved it as she had a wicked sense of humor.
Choose the music that feels right for you and the music you know your loved one would of loved.
