Adele's 'Someone Like You' is popular at British funerals, but is it appropriate?

Adele's 'Someone Like You' is proving to be a massive hit at funerals, at least, it is in the United Kingdom.

The song has entered the funeral chart compiled by Co-operative Funeralcare at number 22.

We can see what it's there — it is, after all, a very sad song — but we're also a little baffled ... it's a breakup ballad.

It's not as if the song is vague, it is very clearly about Adele telling an ex-boyfriend that she will get over him and find someone just like him. Hence the song title.

Wondering what could possibly possess families to play an anthem for jilted ex-lovers at their loved ones' funerals, we posed the question to Joanne Place, the NSW Regional Manager for Guardian Funerals.

"Music requests are as varied as the families who seek our services," Joanne told TheFIX. "You could have AC/DC tracks played back-to-back with classical music."

According to Joanne, the songs played at funerals are less about being relevant to the funeral setting, and more about being relevant to the deceased.

"Services are far more personalised now, and the music that's played can be relevant to that person's life," she said.

As for other "unconventional" song choices, Joanne singled out 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Monty Python's Life of Brian and Dire Straits' 'Walk Of Life'.

"Music can bring laughter and tears to a service, and different songs can be used to reflect different parts of that person's life," Joanne said.

Adele isn't the only pop singer to storm the chart, Tina Turner's 'The Best' appears at number eleven, Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' at number nine, and Robbie Williams' 'Angels' at number five.