Scrappy, lyrics-wise from Gym Class Heroes, I'd suggest "So Long, Friend" [link] If you want something more uplifting than that, "Shoot Down The Stars" [link]
I can get back to you on the Atmosphere.
And again, I'm so sorry.
Mal ,'Jaynestown'
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Scrappy, lyrics-wise from Gym Class Heroes, I'd suggest "So Long, Friend" [link] If you want something more uplifting than that, "Shoot Down The Stars" [link]
I can get back to you on the Atmosphere.
And again, I'm so sorry.
Atmosphere: "Always Coming Back Home To You". [link]
Tupac and Kanye each have songs about how they love their mothers, if that would be appropriate. Oh, or "Keep Your Head Up" by Tupac -- it samples "Ooh Child."
For Lauryn Hill, she covers "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," which seems the most appropriate, lyrics-wise, out of all the songs on "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."
For Thelonious Monk, "Ruby, My Dear," which I can hook you up with via e-mail, if you'd like.
I was getting "played at the memorial" and "music to be put on a cd for people to take home" mixed up.
I love Incubus, Scrappy. I think "Warning" might be a good choice, given its chorus of "Don't ever let life pass you by."
There's also "I Miss You." And "Wish You Were Here." And I'm not entirely sure why, but I'm also suggesting "A Kiss to Send Us Off," if only because it's more upbeat and rockin' while still retaining a little bit of the moodiness. I don't know what kind of mix you want to make. Incubus covers a lot of sounds and topics, but I don't think there's a song about death.
I can send you any Incubus song you need.
Not looking for songs directly about death so much as songs about loss or love or life--so people will listen to the CD and miss Amy but also feel a bit comforted, maybe. Something they may still want to listen to in a year or so.
So far the suggestions are tremendously helpful, y'all.
Then definitely any of those songs would work.