Frank Sinatra's My Way and The Beatles' Hey Jude are among the most popular songs chosen by terminally ill people to accompany them in their final moments, research has suggested.
Marie Curie said she had compiled what she described as the first curated playlist for people at the end of life, through research with bereaved relatives on the subject.
Other songs cited by the 1,000 UK adults whose loved ones have experienced end-of-life care included Judy Garland's Over The Rainbow, while Whitney Houston's version of I Will Always Love You also appeared on the list.
Marie Curie said music can play a “vital role in end-of-life care for many”, with 84 per cent of respondents agreeing that music relaxed and calmed their loved ones, and six in 10 (61 per cent ) stated that it had helped alleviate anxiety and emotional distress.
Frank Sinatra's My Way is among the most popular songs chosen by terminally ill people to accompany them in their final moments
Hey Jude, by the Beatles, is also one of the songs chosen by dying people to listen to as they walk away.
Beautiful, by Christina Aguilera, was also one of the ten songs chosen according to research
Other benefits included creating a shared experience that brought them closer together, creating a sense of normalcy and helping to distract the dying person from the physical symptoms of their illness.
Music therapy expert and Marie Curie Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Queen's University Belfast, Dr Tracey McConnell, said: 'Terminal illness, grief and fear of dying can result in feelings of helplessness and isolation, even with close family and friends.
'Music therapy can help people express their feelings and make them feel better, regardless of their health or emotional situation.'
The charity released the playlist of the most popular songs by publishing a separate report on people's priorities for how they would like to experience their final months, weeks and days.
Marie Curie said that the vast majority (83 per cent) of the 10,500 adults interviewed about their public attitudes to death, dying and bereavement in the UK Revisited (PaddUK) report felt that quality of life was more important than duration of life when seriously ill.
The end-of-life care charity said people stated their desire not to feel pain in the final days of their lives (38 per cent) and more than half (56 per cent) said they would prefer to die at home.
The charity said people's hopes often differ from “harsh reality”, pointing to research published last month that found a third of people who died in England and Wales were severely or overwhelmingly affected by grief. in the last week of life.
Marie Curie nurse Jan Palmer, based in Cardiff and the Vale, said the research shows “what is most important to people who are dying”.
She said: “It certainly comes as no surprise that quality of life is paramount – being free from pain, being able to maintain dignity and self-respect and being surrounded by loved ones are at the top of the list.
'This rings true with what my colleagues and I hear every day from the people we support, whether in the hospice, in people's own homes or on the helpline.
“What is deeply concerning is how often these basic needs are not met. Everyone deserves the best palliative and end-of-life care possible, regardless of who they are and where they live.'
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston was another popular song for people to listen to before they died
Judy Garland's 1938 song Over The Rainbow was also chosen by people on their deathbeds
What a Wonderful World was also among the ten most listened to songs by people before they died. Dr Tracey McConnell said: “Terminal illness, grief and fear of dying can result in feelings of helplessness and isolation, even with close family and friends.”
Other benefits included creating a shared experience that brought them closer together, creating a sense of normalcy and helping to distract the dying person from the physical symptoms of their illness.
Music therapy expert and Marie Curie Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Queen's University Belfast, Dr Tracey McConnell, said: 'Terminal illness, grief and fear of dying can result in feelings of helplessness and isolation, even with close family and friends.
'Music therapy can help people express their feelings and make them feel better, regardless of their health or emotional situation.'
The survey showed that people also chose to listen to These Are The Days Of Our Lives by Queen. Marie Curie said music can play a “vital role in end-of-life care for many”, with 84 per cent of respondents agreeing that music relaxed and calmed their loved ones, and six in 10 (61 per cent ) stated that it had helped alleviate anxiety and emotional distress
The charity released the playlist of the most popular songs by publishing a separate report on people's priorities for how they would like to experience their final months, weeks and days.
Marie Curie said that the vast majority (83 per cent) of the 10,500 adults interviewed about their public attitudes to death, dying and bereavement in the UK Revisited (PaddUK) report felt that quality of life was more important than duration of life when seriously ill.
The end-of-life care charity said people stated their desire not to feel pain in the final days of their lives (38 per cent) and more than half (56 per cent) said they would prefer to die at home.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper was also on the tracklist
Robbie Williams' Angels was also chosen
(Simply) The Best by Tina Turner also made the list
The charity said people's hopes often differ from “harsh reality”, pointing to research published last month that found a third of people who died in England and Wales were severely or overwhelmingly affected by grief. in the last week of life.
Marie Curie nurse Jan Palmer, based in Cardiff and the Vale, said the research shows “what is most important to people who are dying”.
She said: “It certainly comes as no surprise that quality of life is paramount – being free from pain, being able to maintain dignity and self-respect and being surrounded by loved ones are at the top of the list.
'This rings true with what my colleagues and I hear every day from the people we support, whether in the hospice, in people's own homes or on the helpline.
“What is deeply concerning is how often these basic needs are not met. Everyone deserves the best palliative and end-of-life care possible, regardless of who they are and where they live.'
