Planning Final Playlists: Death, Grief & Songs That Don’t Suck
💬 Opening Up: When Music Meets Mortality
Mark gets raw and real in this week’s episode, taking a rare emotional detour before diving into the week’s standout new tracks. He reflects on the deeply personal and unexpectedly universal task of pre-planning funerals for his parents. From legal logistics to emotional landmines, Mark walks us through the decisions—cremation, memorials, and yes, the playlists that might one day honor those we love most.
In true Mark fashion, the episode balances heartfelt storytelling with humor and musical insight. And honestly, it hits hard. Here’s a quick look at the deeply thoughtful funeral setlists he’s considering:
🎶 Mom’s Songs:
- Ave Maria – Michael Crawford (because, Phantom of the Opera)
- In Paradisum – Sarah Brightman (angel energy 100%)
- Amazing Grace – A callback to family funerals and a Hootie-triggered sobfest post-9/11.
🎶 Dad’s Songs:
- Largo (from New World Symphony) – Dvořák
- The Parting Glass – Celtic Woman (raise a glass 🍺)
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python (because gallows humor is healing)
🎶 Mark’s Own Picks (just in case he becomes a ghost DJ ):
- At My Funeral – Crash Test Dummies
- Wasted Years (Iron Maiden cover) – Ryan Adams
- It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday – Jason Mraz
- Dust in the Wind – Kansas
- In My Life – Johnny Cash (covering The Beatles)
- How to Disappear Completely – Radiohead
It’s a poignant reminder that music isn’t just the soundtrack to our lives—it can be the final word, the memory trigger, the healing balm.
🔥 New Songs That Absolutely Don’t Suck
🎧 1. “Cancerian” – KT Tunstall
KT is BACK, baby. This unearthed track, originally written 20 years ago, didn’t make Eye to the Telescope but feels like it should’ve been a single. It’s got all the charm and lyrical wit you’d expect. Astrology references? ✅ Catchy hooks? ✅ Still got it? HELL YES.
🎤 “It’s another case of artists you love slipping through the cracks, but when you rediscover them, it feels like finding an old friend.”
🥁 2. “Not Dynamite” – Stella and the Very Messed
Stella returns with more magic. The mix of electronic toms and acoustic drums gives this track a marching cadence kind of vibe, and that vocal run at the end of the verse? Chef’s kiss. Her upcoming album Big Familiar is one to watch.
🎶 Think: indie-pop meets percussive genius.
🎸 3. “Fake Version of the Real Thing” – Brian Dunne
Sometimes you can’t explain why a song hits—you just know it does. This one’s a folk-rock gem that feels like a warm gift. No standout lyric needed; the whole track just works.
🎁 “I don’t care what the present is, I just appreciate I got a present.”
🌞 4. “Seize the Sun” – Hayden Everett
Seattle’s own Hayden Everett caught Mark’s attention live, opening for The Paper Kites—and wow. Seize the Sun is a gentle, haunting track that closes his 2024 EP, and it left a mark. And yes, Mark even snuck in a recording of one of Hayden’s unreleased songs—about a blind man going on a sightseeing tour.
💡 A reminder: Never skip the opener at a live show.
🔗 Stay Connected
Visit songsthatdontsuck.net for:
- 📰 The Newsletter (get access to the Live Music Archive!)
- 🧢 Merch drops & monthly polls
- 📸 Concert photo galleries
- 🎧 Discounts on earplugs (your future self will thank you)
📣 Like, review, and subscribe on your favorite platform. Tell your friends. Support indie music. Hug someone if you need to.
🕊️ Final Thought
We don’t talk enough about how we want to be remembered. Music makes those conversations a little easier, a little lighter, and a lot more meaningful.
Because in the end… we all just want our final track to not suck.
