I was getting "played at the memorial" and "music to be put on a cd for people to take home" mixed up.
Glory ,'Potential'
Buffista Music III: The Search for Bach
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.
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.
Oh, Scrappy. I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss.
For Al Green, "Take Me To The River" can never steer you wrong. It's a classic and it avoids his typical love-man persona.
For TS Monk, Steph's got a good suggestion in "Ruby, My Dear," but my personal choice would go towards "Sweet and Lovely" (the Thelonious Monk Trio version), "Bemsha Swing" (Brilliant Corners has my favorite version, but there's one on just about every major Monk recording), or "Brilliant Corners" itself, because it's my absolute favorite Monk tune.
I'm not a big fan of Modest Mouse, and iTunes helpfully informs me that I've never listened to the one album in my collection all the way through, but I like the name of the song "Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset."
I'm trying to figure out how she got to be a fan of Davey, Dozy, Beaky.
Since she's a fan of Anne Frank I'll note that there are several lovely and prayerful songs about her on Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.
Songs about suicide and young lives cut short and finding some peace with their ghosts.
Wu Tang: "Da Mysteries of Chessboxin'" is sorta philosophical. "Protect Ya Neck" is pretty fun boastful stuff. Both are on the first album (36 Chambers).
I like Kanye's "Champion" off his most recent album, too.
I'm trying to figure out how she got to be a fan of Davey, Dozy, Beaky.
Ditto. Mid-'60s British pop band doesn't seem to fit the rest. They're worth checking out, but I can't think of any of their songs that would be appropriate for your purpose.
Oasis -- maybe "Don't Look Back in Anger." "Wonderwall" can be quite comforting but is from the point of view of the comforter, so I'm not sure it would fit.
I'm trying to figure out how she got to be a fan of Davey, Dozy, Beaky.
I'm assuming she saw Death Proof.