Picking the right song can turn a basic slideshow into an amazing slideshow. So whether you’re celebrating first time milestones, missing someone with a sentimental song, or just reliving summer days, let the song’s lyrics carry your story.
Don’t ruin the mood with boring background music. Whether you’re putting together a sweet birthday slideshow, a tearjerker funeral montage, or an end of the year classroom highlight reel, the perfect song is what ties it all together.
And if you’re sharing it on social media, prepare for comments like “Why am I crying over someone else’s family??”
We’ve got you covered with the best songs for every type of montage, categorised into separate lists so all you need to do is grab the pics, open your favorite app and cue the music.
Wedding Slideshow Songs
Weddings are already emotional, but the right song will have your guests tearing up before the cake’s even cut. These tracks bring the love, the drama, and just enough sparkle for your slideshow glow-up.
Making a montage for your big day? Or for someone else’s so you can sob behind your phone while pretending not to cry? Either way, here are the perfect background music choices to bring on the feels:
- “From This Moment On” – Shania Twain
- “Amazed” – Lonestar
- “Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
- “At Last” – Etta James
- “You Are the Reason” – Calum Scott
- “All of Me” – John Legend
- “Perfect” – Ed Sheeran
- “Marry Me” – Train
- “The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
Great for: Wedding slideshows, engagement parties, anniversary tributes, or just a sappy couple’s recap for social media.
Related: Enchanting Taylor Swift Wedding Songs
Funeral or Memorial Slideshow Songs
When you’re honoring someone special, the music needs to hit deep. These sentimental songs set the tone with grace, love, and a few gut punches to the heartstrings.
If you need a sentimental song for a funeral slideshow that won’t feel like background elevator music, these have all the emotion.
- “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
- “You’ll Be in My Heart” – Phil Collins
- “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
- “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
- “Tears in Heaven” – Eric Clapton
- “Slipped Away” – Avril Lavigne
- “Time to Say Goodbye” – Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- “I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston
- “One More Day” – Diamond Rio
Perfect for honoring: family members, longtime friends, or a life well-lived. Not a dry eye in sight.
Birthday & Growing Up Slideshows
From baby giggles to teenage eye-rolls, these songs capture all the long way growing-up vibes. Whether it’s a first birthday or a bar mitzvah, you’ll want tunes that bring the “aww” and the “OMG how cute was I?!”
The birthday slideshow is where you show just how far that little girl (or boy) has come — from diaper disasters to TikTok pro. Choose something fun, sweet, and sassy
- “My Wish” – Rascal Flatts
- “Forever Young” – Rod Stewart
- “Isn’t She Lovely” – Stevie Wonder
- “Count on Me” – Bruno Mars
- “Never Grow Up” – Taylor Swift
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman
- “I Hope You Dance” – LeAnn Rimes
- “Simple Things” – Lauren Wood
- “Daughters” – John Mayer
- “Top of the World” – The Carpenters
Ideal for: Bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, 1st birthdays, sweet 16s and more
End of the Year Slideshow Songs
School’s out, memories are in. These tracks are all about wrapping up the chaos, friendship, and growth into one epic end of the year slideshow moment.
Whether you’re wrapping up preschool, high school, or just a chaotic summer with your favorite people, these tracks are a great way to say “we did that.”
- “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
- “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield
- “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Green Day
- “Little Wonders” – Rob Thomas
- “We’re All in This Together” – High School Musical (don’t judge, it works)
- “Story of My Life” – One Direction
- “Photograph” – Ed Sheeran
- “Better Place” – Rachel Platten
- “These Are Days” – 10,000 Maniacs
- “Hall of Fame” – The Script ft. will.i.am
Great choice for: Classroom slideshows, yearbook wrap-ups, graduation parties, or any end of the year slideshow songsproject.
Family Slideshow Songs
It’s giving cozy, nostalgic, and camera roll overload. These songs are perfect for showcasing your chaotic crew, your holiday highlights, and everything that makes your family your people.
For those cozy family videos that show the simple things: holidays, birthdays, random Tuesday game nights. These songs scream family slideshow goals.
- “The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
- “Somebody’s Hero” – Jamie O’Neal
- “Home” – Phillip Phillips
- “Country Roads” – John Denver
- “I Lived” – OneRepublic
- “Family” – Dolly Parton
- “That’s What I Call Love” – Lauren Wood
- “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King
- “We Are Family” – Sister Sledge
- “Fields of Gold” – Eva Cassidy or Sting
Perfect background music for your camera roll dump or holiday highlight reel.
Bonus: Songs That Work for Literally Anything
If you’re stuck or just want that guaranteed good time, these songs go with everything. No matter the montage, they bring the mood, the magic, and the main-character energy.
If you’re overwhelmed, don’t worry. These are universal bangers for any slideshow — they never fail.
- “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Just the Way You Are” – Bruno Mars
- “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz
- “You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban
- “You’ve Got the Love” – Florence + the Machine
- “The Climb” – Miley Cyrus
- “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
- “Live Like You Were Dying” – Tim McGraw
- “Man in the Mirror” – Michael Jackson
Use these when you’re lost in your slideshow project and you just need that own song moment to save the day.
These song ideas are here to help get you started, especially if you’re stuck staring at your camera roll wondering what vibe to go with. But honestly? If there’s a track that means something personal to you maybe it was your song with a loved one, or something that always makes your family crack up – then that’s the perfect song for your montage.
Sentimental or silly, what matters most is that it tells your story. So don’t be afraid to break the “rules” and go with something that feels right.
Final Montage Magic Tips
- Shorter slideshows = more impact. Nobody wants a 25-minute epic unless it’s your grandma’s retirement video.
- Let the music breathe. Sometimes those lyrics just need a single photo to hit hard.
- Match the tempo to your photos. Don’t put newborn pics to Bon Jovi. Unless that’s your vibe.
More Song Lists You’ll Love
If you’re vibing with this list, we’ve got plenty more where that came from. Whether you’re curating playlists for parties, road trips, or your next emotional spiral (we don’t judge), check out our other song roundups for every mood and moment.
- Empowering Songs for Self Worth
- 40+ Best Goth Love Songs For Your Playlist
- 75 Songs About Toxic Love Relationships
- 15 Best Bad Attitude Songs
And if you’re in the mood for fun, a few song themed quizzes
Share this post with a friend making a slideshow and help them avoid tragic song choices. You’re doing the world a service. They’ll thank you later.
1 thought on “45 Best Photo Montage Songs That Will Make You Laugh, Cry, and Hit Replay”