Music for the occasion

Over at NZBC, who are, just let me stop & say so, a top bunch of guys (because they have promised to pimp my blog), Stephen Stratford has asked for submissions for the most appropriate music for Christmas. Suggestions so far include:

Reverend Johnny Blakey's 1928 gospel classic, "Jesus Was Here On Business",
Procol Harum's early hit "Bah Homburg"
9 Inch Nails' "Help me I am in Hell"

Please do drop by NZBC & offer any more suggestions.

Their post had me thinking yesterday, as I briskly passed a small Sally Army Brass band outside New World on Willis Street, playing Snoopy's Christmas... (the first exposure of the season), about music for other occasions.

I remember when I got married, we really wanted the musicians (two very talented people called Susan Colien-Reid, and Andrew London) to play "Miss Sarajevo" as the bride entered.

Here she comes
Heads turn around
Here she comes
To take her crown

Sadly they didn't know it & I can't remember what they did play instead, but Miss Sarajevo is a bit of a favourite for Mrs llew (not as much of a favourite as "Secret Love" but we thought that might not be quite so appropriate).

But there are many more appropriate & popular songs for weddings, sadly, most of them really suck."The Wind Beneath My Sails", indeed.

But how about funerals? I've heard Bette Midler's "The Rose" played to good effect (even though it sucks too), The Beatles "In My Life"... which for a long time I thought would be cool to have played at my funeral, should the occasion ever arrive.

But quite some time ago, I realised that the only song I want played at that august occasion, the only really appropriate song, that sums it all up, and is guaranteed to reduce the mourners to quivering, grieving jelly... is obviously...

Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang

Well the Shoop Shoop stands for the mood you're in
And the Diddy Wop mean let the fun begin
It's a feeling gonna set your senses reeling and you can't sit still
Cumma Cumma mean what you thought, that's right
And the Wang Dang gonna get you through the night time
Baby there's a right time if you wanna lose control

Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang

Shoop Shoop - li'll party, nothing formal
Diddy Wop - she's in the corner, looked quite normal
The Cumma Cumma, empty glass, bold as brass, pinch me, hang about
Wang Dang

Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
She said Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang

Well the Shoop Shoop stood for her mood alright
And her Diddy Wop gave me a nasty fright
Sought of feeling that-a sent me senses reeling and you can't sit still
Cumma Cumma meant what I thought, touche
And the Wang Dang, err, anyway, nearly died, mortified, nearly lost control

Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang
Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang

How about you? What would you like played at your funeral?