What Song Would You Want at Your Funeral?

Australians are being invited to nominate the song they want played at their funeral as part of a new national Spotify playlist designed to spark conversations about end-of-life wishes.

The campaign, Dying to Know: Australia’s Final Playlist, launched today ahead of Dying to Know Day on 8 August, in response to research showing only one in four Australians have told their family what they want at the end of their life.

Campaign organisers say the guessing game left behind places enormous stress on grieving families, who are often forced to make significant decisions without knowing their loved one’s wishes.

Ms Dawson said the conversations went well beyond legal formalities.

“Too many Australians are leaving important conversations until it is too late,” said Kaz Dawson, chief executive of Proveda, the not-for-profit organisation behind Dying to Know.

Ms Dawson said the conversations went well beyond legal formalities.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

This year’s campaign, run under the theme Nobody Knows, uses music as an accessible entry point to those bigger discussions. Participants are asked to choose a song, tell someone close to them why it matters, add it to the national playlist, and share their choice on social media using the hashtag #NowTheyKnow.

Carolyn Vaughan, a Dying to Know facilitator, said a song could be the easiest possible way to open a conversation most people avoid.

“Conversations about death and dying don’t need to begin with difficult decisions. They can begin with something as simple as sharing a song that holds special meaning to you that you’d like played at your funeral,” Ms Vaughan said.

“When families know what’s important to someone, they’re far more confident making decisions during an incredibly difficult time. These conversations don’t take away grief, but they can remove uncertainty and provide enormous comfort.”

Ms Vaughan has already added her own track: In the Mood by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

“It was the song my father and I danced to many years ago. He was a gold medal ballroom dancer, and those memories mean the world to me,” she said.

“Sharing something as personal as a song is often all it takes to start talking about the things your loved ones really need to know.”

Organisers expect submissions to range from classic funeral favourites such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow to guilty pleasures like Never Gonna Give You Up — and perhaps a few requests for Highway to Hell, ironic or otherwise. Throughout the campaign, Dying to Know will publish playlist insights, emerging trends and some of the most meaningful stories behind the nation’s song choices.

Dying to Know Day, held annually on 8 August, will this year feature thousands of events across the country, ranging from casual coffee chats to workshops, webinars and community forums.

To add a song to Australia’s Final Playlist, visit dyingtoknow.au, where participants can use the Spotify link or submit their choice via an online form.

Dying to Know is a national annual campaign powered by Proveda, a not-for-profit community organisation established in 1994 that helps people navigate the health and social care systems.