It’s that time of year!
“Does anyone have a great graduation song suggestions??”
Towards the end of March (USA/Europe) and beginning of November (Australia/New Zealand) I start to see teachers ask for graduation song suggestions on Facebook and other social media channels. Although new fresh ones appear each year, some songs are perennial favourites.
I decided to put together a list of the most commonly suggested songs. This list will be updated each year to include new songs.
The list below includes
- Song title
- Artist/composer name
- Link to the Youtube video
The Songs
The songs below are listed in order of release date and the link goes to the Youtube video of the song.
IMPORTANT: although most songs in the list are considered clean and student-friendly, please use your own judgement when listening to them (or watching the video) and selecting a song for your school. Every school has different guidelines and expectations so YOU need to choose what works best for your students.
>>> Download a copy of this list: use the download button at the bottom of this post <<<
2016
Try Everything – Shakira (from “Zootopia”)
Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake (from “Trolls”)
How Far I’ll Go – Auli’i Cravalho (from “Moana”)
2015
The Days – Avicii
Better When I’m Dancing – Meghan Trainor
2014
Best Day Of My Life – American Authors
Que Sera – Justice Crew
Fight Song – Rachel Platten
2013
Compass – Lady Antebellum
Shine Your Way – Owl City & Yuna (from “The Croods”)
Roar – Katy Perry
Hey Brother – Avicii
Happy – Pharrell Williams
I Lived – One Republic
Counting Stars – One Republic
2012
It’s Time – Imagine Dragons
On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
Home – Phillip Phillips
Hall of Fame – The Script ft. will.i.am
Good Time – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
2011
Keep Your Head Up – Andy Grammer
2010
Wherever I go – Miley Cyrus & Emily Osment
Count on me – Bruno Mars
Firework – Katy Perry
Today My Life Begins – Bruno Mars
Hold On To The Memories – Corey Tynan
2009
Lean On Me – Glee version
Growing Up Beside You – Paolo Nutini
Fireflies – Owl City
2008
I Was Here – Lady Antebellum
2007
Little Wonders – Rob Thomas (from “Meet The Robinsons”)
I Told You So – Carrie Underwood
2006
My Wish – Rascal Flatts
Forever Young – Youth Group
2004
Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson
2003
For Good – Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel (from “Wicked”)
1999
Friends Forever – Vitamin C
1997
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) – Green Day
1996
Seasons of Love – from Rent
1995
I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts (Theme from “Friends”)
1991
End Of The Road – Boyz II Men
1987
Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
1986
True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
1977
We Are The Champions – Queen
1971
Pure Imagination – from Willy Wonka
1967
With A Little Help From My Friends – Beatles
1961
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Any other songs you would like to add?
What have you used with your students? Add a comment below!
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34 Comments
Here’s to Us by Kevin Rudolph
Kaleidoscope by Great Big World
It’s Our World by Jacquie Lee
Lanterns by Australian band Birds of Tokyo is a great song for students to sing and play , have the rest of the graduating class file up and light a candle and walk out with it while the musicians are performing. https://youtu.be/mbJ3vacGOhw
Ooh – yes I really like that song!
“Here’s to the Night” – Eve 6
Had this one for a middle school graduation 🙂
Thanks Dan – I didn’t know this one. Listening now….
In My Life by the Beatles
One of my favourite Beatles songs of all time 🙂
Growing Up Beside You by Paulo Nuttini (I changed some of the lyrics)
Thanks Karen – another one I didn’t know!
I Lived by One Republic is what we will be singing this year.
Love that song. It’s on my running playlist in Spotify
I Believe from Honey the movie
Greenday Time of your life
We will always be Friends by Hedley
1979 The Rainbow Connection by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher
(from the original Muppet Movie)
Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they’re wrong wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
Who said that wishes would be heard and answered when wished on the morningstar?
Someone thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
All of us under its spell.
We know that it’s probably magic.
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.
La-da-da, de-da-da-do
La-da-da-da-da-de-da-do
AND
1963 May Each Day by George Wyle and Mort Green
(recorded by Andy Williams and used the opening lines at the end of each TV show)
May each day in the week be a good day
May the Lord always watch over you
And may all of your hopes turn to wishes
And may all of your wishes come true
May each day in the month be a good day
May you make friends with each one you meet
And may all of your daydreams be mem’ries
And may all of your mem’ries be sweet
The weeks turn to months and the months into years
There’ll be sadness and joy, there’ll be laughter and tears
But one thing I pray to heaven above
May each of your days be a day full of love
May each day in the year be a good day
May each dawn find you happy and gay
And may all of your days be as lovely
As the one you shared with me today
May each day of your life be a good day
And good night.
AND
1995 You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you’re miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you’ve got a friend in me
Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got troubles, and I’ve got ’em too
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you
We stick together and can see it through
‘Cause you’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too, maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it’s me and you, boy
And as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You’re gonna see it’s our destiny
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
We play Let them be little by Billy Dean for our Pre-k graduation ceremony (for the parents before the children walk in) Not a dry eye in the house
Nice 🙂
[…] Katie Argyle’s list is also a great […]
*Switchfoot “This is Your Life” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx9RcI_EueM)
*Better Than Ezra “A Lifetime” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ2QT88m_nk)
1996 – Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
1996 – Reach (Gloria Estefan)
1997 – My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
1998 – When You Believe (Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston)
1998 – You’ll Be in My Heart (Phil Collins)
2000 – I Hope You Dance (Lee Ann Womack)
2007 – Best Days (Graham Colton)
2008 – The Time of My Life (David Cook)
2009 – The Climb (Miley Cyrus)
2009 – No Boundaries (Kris Allen)
2009 – No Surprise (Daughtry)
2009 – One Day You Will (Lady Antebellum)
2010 – The Finish Line (Train)
2010 – Unstoppable (Rascal Flatts)
2010 – The World is Ours Tonight (Gloriana)
2014 – Best Day of My Life (American Authors)
2014 – Happy (Pharrell Williams)
2015 – Centuries (Fall Out Boy)
2015 – See You Again (Wiz Khalifa)
Wow – thanks Michele! And especially for including the years 🙂
Villa Park High School 1983 theme song for graduation “up where we belong” Joe Coker, there were tons of better songs, but this one was chosen.
We do Let Them Be Little, too!! It’s amazing. The parents love it!
I don’t know that one Meghan but even the title sounds good 🙂 I’ll check it out
I wish they could write they songs on they page
I love Photograph by Nickelback. Great for a photo video for the graduates
Some of the Songs that I have chosen for our Graduations from the last few years have been:
Do I Make You Proud – Taylor Hicks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEZIpac803M
Time of Our Lives – Tyrone Wells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFPhEn6ifV0
Lanterns – Birds of Tokyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbJ3vacGOhw
(all have bought tears to the parents eyes)
Hope you enjoy them as much as my students and parents did!
Thanks Tania – those are great suggestions!
“For Good” from the musical “Wicked”, by Stephen Schwartz
“See You Again”, Charlie Puth
“One Call Away”, Charlie Puth
Corrs – so young. especially good for post exams celebrations!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8rUZHbsnUQ
Corey Smith – I’m Not Gonna Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM5oqPr5LUY
On My Way by Phil Collins (from the movie Brother Bear)
Seasons of Love-Rent My students sing this every year.
Mamas and Papas – Make your own kind of music
One of the originals
To sir with Love – original Lulu version or Glee Cast version