Western graduation song ranking [2025]

Viva La VidaColdplay57rank/position

Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Official Video)

Viva La Vida will embolden your heart as it flutters with nerves about a new classroom and classmates.

Released by the rock band Coldplay in 2008, the song drew attention for its genre-defying sound.

Its beautiful strings and percussion resonate to celebrate fresh beginnings.

The lyrics, which depict the life of a fictional king, echo school life, where we grow through a variety of experiences.

It’s a track that makes you feel life is beautiful—good parts and not-so-good parts included.

FlashlightJessie J58rank/position

Jessie J – Flashlight (from Pitch Perfect 2) (Official Video)

It’s a new song released in 2015.

It gently soothes the anxiety of thinking, “After graduation, everyone will go their separate ways—everyone will scatter, and I’ll end up all alone.” Your friends will light the path you’re going to take together with you.

When We Were YoungAdele59rank/position

Adele – When We Were Young (Live at The Church Studios)

A singer from Tottenham in London, Adele, with her gentle, husky-voiced “When We Were Young.” It’s a song that makes you look back on those days and really take your time listening.

An overwhelming ballad whose steady, powerful, slow stride of a tempo draws you in completely.

Am I WrongNico & Vinz60rank/position

Nico & Vinz – Am I Wrong [Official Music Video]

This is the signature song released in 2013 by Nico & Vinz, a duo from Norway.

They performed at Summer Sonic Japan in 2015 and drew a lot of attention.

The lyrics, which sing about goals and heights that seem utterly unimaginable, make it a perfect song for graduates who are finding new goals after graduation.

Permission to DanceBTS61rank/position

BTS (방탄소년단) ‘Permission to Dance’ Official MV

BTS, a seven-member male hip-hop group attracting attention from around the world.

Their 2021 release “Permission to Dance” is a perfect pep song to play at entrance ceremonies.

The group’s energetic performance and rhythmic tempo will lift your spirits.

The lyrics, which say that anyone is free to dance, teach new students the importance of living true to themselves.

It’s a track that embraces both the excitement and anxiety of starting school and makes you want to move forward.

Good FeelingFlo Rida62rank/position

Flo Rida – Good Feeling [Official Video]

When you think of Flo Rida from Miami, Florida, many people picture him as the hitmaker behind party anthems that push a high-energy style to the forefront, like the smash “Low.” His 2011 global hit “Good Feeling” is also an upbeat, party-style track that’s quintessentially Flo Rida—but interestingly, in the U.

S.

it’s also known as a classic graduation song.

Lyrics like “giving up isn’t an option” and “I’m gonna make it” pack a punch for anyone facing the anxieties of graduation—parting ways with friends and wondering if they’ll be able to enjoy their new life.

The way the song conveys the theme of loving and enjoying life—simple yet difficult—not in a sentimental way but through an ultra-catchy track, feels so very Flo Rida, and it’s great, isn’t it?

Fight SongRachel Platten63rank/position

Rachel Platten – Fight Song (Official Video)

Rachel Platten is a singer-songwriter known for her emotionally resonant vocals.

Her 2015 release “Fight Song” is an anthem used in various campaigns and commercials.

The mid-tempo drums and strings sound beautifully uplifting.

Having spent over a decade honing her craft, she brings real conviction to lyrics about not giving up.

For those of you starting school, days of challenges lie ahead.

Listening to this empowering track can help you greet this new beginning with a positive mindset.