I go to a huge amount of funerals and memorial services.
Well, I am a pro singer; it's my job.

Funerals are always rather depressing; gloomy music, the dead man's* widow weeping in the front row, the dead man's mistress(es) weeping in the second row, and some evil bastard in the third row looking smug that he's survived longer than the deceased.

However, memorial services are another matter; they are for remembering the deceased, and celebrating the good parts of their life, not their death itself.
Memorable memorial services include:
-An old Master of the Hunt: everyone was in hunting clothes, the hounds were allowed in the church, and they played a bugle fanfare at the end.
-The founder of Amnesty International; it was an incredibly moving service, and really inspired me to do more for human rights. Annie Lennox sang a song. Unfortunately, it was on the same day at the London bombings, so got rather overshadowed, and Youssef N'Dor couldn't make it.
-Sir Ian Mills; actor and filmmaker. Contributors to the service, and people in the congregation included: Richard Attenborough, Michael Caine, Judi Dench, Crispin Mills (of Kulashaka fame!), that bloke from Grease 2...

Celeb-spotting, and I get paid for it! (And free alcyhol as well sometimes).





*I've only ever sung at funerals for dead men. I have no idea why. Perhaps old women just don't die.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 11 May 2006, 11:37, Reply)