Rock songs at funerals to celebrate life in Australia

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- More and more Australians are choosing rock and rolls instead of hymns for funerals, media quoted undertakers as saying Wednesday.

Two classic ballads -- Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and Louis Armstrong's "Wonderful World" -- top the list. "Highway to Hell" and "Another One Bites the Dust" are on the list, South Australia's largest funeral provider Centennial Park said in a statement.

Other choices include "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life", "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" and "Hit the Road Jack."

Only two hymns -- Amazing Grace and Abide With Me -- made the top 10 funeral songs on the list, according to Bryan Elliott, chief executive of Centennial Park.

The change is a reflection of emphasis on celebrating a person's life, the funeral provider said.

"Some of the more unusual songs we hear actually work very well within the service because they represent the person's character," said Elliott.

The move prompted Centennial Park to replace projectors with large plasma TV screens.

"Hi-tech funerals are the way of the future," Elliott said.

(Agencies)