Have you ever asked yourself what song you’d like to be played at your funeral? Or, more powerful still, what song you’d most like to hear just before you die?

Possibly, not. It’s a morbid topic, after all, and many of us try not to dwell upon our certain ends. But once the question gets under your skin, it’s hard to ignore. So far in the Radio Magnetic office we’ve ruined some of our favourite tunes answering this question. On the other hand it gives you a warm feeling inside thinking the people you love will be listening to a particular piece that you love.

So where’s all this morbid chat coming from? Well legend label Get Physical are releasing a compilation of tracks that big name DJs and producers would like to have played at their funeral. People like DJ T, Gilles Peterson, Ricardo Villalobos, Laurent Garnier, Kevin Saunderson and Coldcut have all put forward their nominations for the Final Song Compilation.

DJ T and Richie Hawtin’s selections are part of an audio feature in the latest Magnetism show.

Check the amazing selection from those on the compilation below and let’s have your Final Song…

physical-music.com

Final Song Tracklist

1. Erik Satie - 1. Gymnopédie – selected by DJ T.
2. Rob Gallagher – Little One – selected by Gilles Peterson.
3. Photek - Modus Operandi – selected by Storm.
4. The Stranglers - Golden Brown – selected by DJ Hell.
5. Cerrone - Supernature – selected by Kevin Saunderson.
6. Radiohead - Sit Down Stand Up – selected by Laurent Garnier.
7. Chloé - Paradise – selected by Chloé.
8. The Beach Boys - ‘Til I Die – selected by David Holmes.
9. Peggy Lee – Is That All There Is? – selected by Ewan Pearson.
10. Inti Illimani – Caramba, Yo Soy Dueno del Baron – selected by Ricardo Villalobos.
11. Link - Amenity – selected by Richie Hawtin.
12. Pharoah Sanders – Astral Travelling – selected by Francois K.
13. Brian Eno – An Ending (Ascent) – selected by Coldcut.

From the artists-

DJ T., on ‘1. Gymnopédie’ by Erik Satie
I see life as an eternal cycle, with an ever-repeating nature to it. I believe that towards the end of your life, you move steadily closer to the child you once were. In my most vivid memories of my early childhood, music always played an important role in my life. My parents used to listen to all kinds of music all day, from German hit songs to soul and disco, but also classical music. There are certain songs they used to play that touched me so deeply on an emotional level that no other music could ever come anywhere close to. Not even electronic music could do that, which is probably due to the fact that childhood memories are stored on a deeper emotional level. ‘1. Gymnopédie’ is one of these pieces I used to love, and that was long before I started to get interested in the person behind the music – after which Erik Satie eventually became one of my favorite composers. To me he is the unequalled master of the solo piano. The secret of his compositions lies in the simplicity that is peculiar to them. ‘1. Gymnopédie’ may not be his best piece, but it is certainly his most well known. For me it is the simultaneous expression of the hope and sadness, the beauty as well as the tragedy of life.

- Gilles Peterson, on ‘Little One’ by Rob Gallagher
I’ve always said I’d get Rob and Val to sing this for me at my funeral. Rob has been my main MC for over 20 years now, so it kind of makes sense – he’s my biggest inspiration.

- Storm, on ‘Modus Operandi’ by Photek
There are only so many tunes in the world that you can say really soothe your soul, well ‘Modus Operandi’ for me is the ultimate one. When I first got this album ‘Modus Operandi’ was the track I had to play every day to make the world seem an easier place to deal with, I played it every day for about a year and a half.
After the sadness of losing Kemi, the track came back out again and was truly one of my survival tracks, it eased my broken heart and calmed my soul. Photek is truly awesome at creating atmospheres that move you.

- DJ Hell, on ‘Golden Brown’ by Photek
A song to inspire people to dance, even in a cemetery.

- Kevin Saunderson, on ‘Supernature’ by Cerrone
I first heard this song played by Larry Levan at Paradise Garage in New York City. It was the first song I heard when I walked into the club for the very first time. It just hypnotized me. It’s been my favorite ever since.

- Laurent Garnier, on ‘Sit Down Stand Up’ by Radiohead
‘Sit Down Stand Up’… just the way I imagine going to heaven (or to hell!!). Not really knowing where to stand or what to do. Similar to how this unbelievable song starts so softly and finishes in total chaos. This song would be a great reminder of who I am, always looking for contrast, never really satisfied with one rhythm, or one tempo. On top of that, Tom York’s voice should be heard throughout the universe!!!

- Chloé, on ‘Paradise’ by Chloé
Every song exists in its own time and place. Usually, life does not give us enough time to choose our last song. And as we try not to dwell on such things, inevitably we know deep inside the end will come.
‘Paradise’ is that feeling inside, as our souls gently float away after death. Which might be our true living existence. It was one of my first songs to ever see a release: a perfect beginning, to a perfect end.

- David Holmes, on ‘‘Til I Die’ by The Beach Boys
It is an exceptional piece of music that has resonated with me for over 15 years and which in my eyes out strips the issued version, which is also a masterpiece. It inspired a track on my album called ‘Hey Maggy’ which I hold close to my heart.

- Ewan Pearson, on ‘Is That All There Is?’ by Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee had her second big hit with this song in which Lieber and Stoller turn a Thomas Mann short story into an existential justification for lives spent in nightclubs and soaked with booze. I hope it would raise a wry smile among my loved ones, and the sentiment is actually pretty wise – your present life is all you have so best enjoy it!

- Ricardo Villalobos, on ‘Caramba, Yo Soy Dueno del Baron?’ by Inti Illimani
I chose a piece by my favorite folklore band as the melancholies, tradition, pride and fortune of this track creates a mixture that directly connects to the person I have become. It can either be interpreted as melancholic or joyful.

- Richard Hawtin, on ‘Amenity’ by Link
In the early days of the 1990’s when some records were still quite hard to come by, I had a few secret weapons that I had found on my global travels. I was introduced to the original pressing of Link ‘Amenity’ by my friend Dave at Fatcat records in London and it immediately became one of my most important records of my DJ career. The pace, the build, the emotion, and of course, the strings of this record always seemed to sum up those magical evenings that unfortunately had to come to an end… in those early mornings in abandoned cold Detroit warehouses this record sent everyone home with warmth and a feeling of unity and conclusion. It became a sign that everyone had somehow been deeply connected through the music that evening… nothing was said, but everybody knew it and everybody felt it. At that moment, there was no other record… time stopped and everyone took a long final breath, and so in the end it must also be my very last record. For myself and for all the connections I’ve felt in my life.

- Francois K, on ‘Astral Travelling’ by Pharoah Sanders
From the moment I discovered this songs around 1974, it has remained one of the most inspired reminders of the reason why I decided to dedicate my life to music. Its cosmic depth, quasi-transcendental melody and lush atmosphere has made it one of my all-time favorites.

- Coldcut, on ‘An Ending (Ascent)’ by Brian Eno
A very calm track that eases the listener into a state of reflection… a tune you can get lost in.