1980s Funeral Songs
About 1980s Funeral Songs Funeral Songs
1980s funeral songs capture Generation X's coming-of-age soundtrack, featuring new wave innovation, power ballad grandeur, synth pop's electronic revolution, and MTV's visual culture that transformed how music was experienced and remembered. This decade witnessed synthesizers becoming mainstream, guitar solos reaching theatrical heights, and artists like U2, Prince, and Madonna creating music that balanced artistic ambition with massive popularity. For those who grew up with MTV, cassette tapes, and John Hughes films, eighties music represents formative experiences of first loves, teenage angst, and cultural optimism, making these songs deeply resonant for funeral services. The era's distinctive sound—from atmospheric new wave to bombastic rock anthems to sleek pop production— ensures memorable options whether honoring someone who loved dance clubs, concert arenas, or bedroom stereo introspection. Whether celebrating a life with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" or reflecting solemnly with The Cure's melancholy masterpieces, 1980s songs offer instant recognition, emotional authenticity, and period-specific atmosphere that speaks powerfully to multiple generations.
Top 1980s Funeral Songs Funeral Songs
Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen
Cohen's masterpiece captures the bittersweet nature of life and love, resonating deeply at farewell moments.
Simply the Best
Tina Turner
Validates the grief (we are sad because you were the best) while celebrating the person's value. Allows leaving with heads held high.
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
Gives voice to gratitude the family feels they didn't express enough in life. A final public declaration of thanks.
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
Celebrates the quiet heroes in our lives who lifted us up without seeking recognition.
Dance With My Father
Luther Vandross
Celebrates the special bond between fathers and children.
Tips for Choosing 1980s Funeral Songs Funeral Songs
Tip 1. Include power ballads for emotional impact - Songs from Journey, REO Speedwagon, or Bon Jovi offer soaring, memorable tributes.
Tip 2. Consider new wave sophistication - The Cure, Depeche Mode, or U2 provide introspective, atmospheric options for reflective moments.
Tip 3. Balance synth pop with rock - Mix electronic sounds with guitar-driven tracks to capture the decade's musical diversity.
Tip 4. Honor MTV generation memories - Choose songs with iconic music videos for added nostalgia and cultural significance.
Tip 5. Think about arena rock anthems - Eighties produced stadium-filling songs perfect for celebrating larger-than-life personalities.
Tip 6. Consider adult contemporary hits - Whitney Houston or Lionel Richie offer polished, universally appealing funeral options.
Tip 7. Include British new wave variety - From Duran Duran to The Smiths, British bands offered diverse emotional tones for services.
Complete List of 1980s Funeral Songs Funeral Songs
Leonard Cohen
A haunting meditation on love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.
Why it's meaningful: Cohen's masterpiece captures the bittersweet nature of life and love, resonating deeply at farewell moments.
Best moment: Perfect for reflection during the service or viewing.
Simply the Best
Tina Turner
80s power anthem with synthesizer stabs and Turner's raspy, powerful vocals. A direct eulogy in song form.
Why it's meaningful: Validates the grief (we are sad because you were the best) while celebrating the person's value. Allows leaving with heads held high.
Best moment: Recessional. Particularly popular for spouses and sports fans.
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
The ultimate tribute to the quiet supporter: 'Did you ever know that you're my hero?' Perfect for those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes for their family.
Why it's meaningful: Gives voice to gratitude the family feels they didn't express enough in life. A final public declaration of thanks.
Best moment: Eulogy support or tribute. The emotional build allows the speaker time to compose themselves.
Bette Midler
A tribute to someone who was a source of strength and inspiration.
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates the quiet heroes in our lives who lifted us up without seeking recognition.
Best moment: Beautiful during eulogies or photo tributes.
Angels Among Us
Alabama
A country classic about angels walking among us and watching over us from heaven, offering comfort that loved ones become our guardian angels.
Why it's meaningful: Provides comfort in believing your son is now an angel watching over you, transforming devastating loss into ongoing spiritual presence.
Best moment: Uplifting choice for celebrating the belief that your son is still with you.
When I Get Where I'm Going
Brad Paisley ft. Dolly Parton
A hopeful country duet about heaven's promise of reunion with loved ones who've gone before.
Why it's meaningful: While emotional about separation, the focus on eventual reunion and heaven's peace brings comfort.
Best moment: Bittersweet choice balancing sorrow with hope of reunion.
I'm Still Standing
Elton John
Elton John's defiant pop-rock anthem of resilience and survival against all odds.
Why it's meaningful: Chosen for those who fought long illnesses or overcame adversity. Celebrates resilience and the refusal to be defeated.
Best moment: Recessional for fighters — those who battled cancer, addiction, or hardship with dignity.
Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
A promise of eternal loyalty — 'If you're lost you can look and you will find me, time after time.' Pop perfection with a heartbreaking core.
Why it's meaningful: The repeated promise to always be there transforms into a message from the deceased. Loss doesn't end the connection — they'll catch you when you fall.
Best moment: Tribute or slideshow. The clock-like rhythm creates a hypnotic, meditative quality.
With or Without You
U2
Bono's meditation on love's impossible contradictions — 'I can't live with or without you.' The Edge's infinite delay creates a cathedral of sound.
Why it's meaningful: Death forces the ultimate version of this paradox — you must live without them, but they remain essential to who you are.
Best moment: Tribute or reflection. The hypnotic bass line and building layers create transcendence.
Superstar
Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross' devastating cover of the Carpenters classic, dripping with longing and sorrow.
Why it's meaningful: The yearning to be reunited with someone far away captures the ache of separation by death.
Best moment: Beautiful for honoring those who felt larger than life or expressing deep longing.
Walking on Sunshine
Katrina & The Waves
Pure 80s pop joy with an irresistible beat. Impossible to hear without smiling.
Why it's meaningful: Pure joy as an act of defiance against grief. For celebrations of life where the family wants energy, not solemnity.
Best moment: Celebration of life recessional — especially non-religious services.
Don't Dream It's Over
Crowded House
Neil Finn's defiant anthem against endings — 'Hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over.' Love persists despite everything trying to tear it apart.
Why it's meaningful: The refusal to accept that love ends with death. For couples and close friends, this captures the stubborn persistence of connection beyond the grave.
Best moment: Recessional or celebration of life. The soaring chorus creates communal uplift.
Lead Me Home
Johnny Lang featuring Blind Boys of Alabama
A soulful prayer for guidance on the journey home.
Why it's meaningful: Blends gospel tradition with modern soul to express the longing for eternal rest.
Best moment: Powerful for those with strong faith seeking comfort in spiritual traditions.