ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE AMONG FUNERAL FAVORITES
by Hans ten Cate
Sunday, 13 March 2005

Monty Python's song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from the film Monty Python's Life of Brian rated third among Britons as the song people would like played at their funeral. Robbie Williams' song Angels, recently declared best song of the last 25 years at the Brit Awards, was ranked number one, followed by Frank Sinatra's My Way.

The digital radio company Music Choice conducted a "census" of musical tastes across Europe, asking visitors to its website about their favourite and least favourite tunes. Of the 45,000 people who responded, 20,000 were from Britain. Music Choice revealed the poll results on 10 March.

Here is the top list for British poll participants:

• 1. Angels - Robbie Williams
• 2. My Way - Frank Sinatra
• 3. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Monty Python
• 4. Stairway to heaven - Led Zeppelin
• 5. Who wants to live forever - Queen
• 6. Good Riddance(time of your life) - Green Day
• 7. Everybody Hurts - REM
• 8. Live Forever - Oasis
• 9. Wind beneath my wings - Bette Midler
• 10. Amazing Grace - Royal Scots Dragon Guards (ANI)

The rest of Europe opted for a more rock-oriented top ten, and Monty Python's song was not among them:

• 1. The Show Must Go On - Queen
• 2. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
• 3. Highway to Hell - AC/DC
• 4. My Way - Frank Sinatra
• 5. Requiem - Mozart
• 6. Angels - Robbie Williams
• 7. Who Wants to Live Forever - Queen
• 8. Let it Be - The Beatles
• 9. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
• 10. With or Without You - U2