Graduation, or commencement, is one of the most important and memorable ceremonies in life. The music that accompanies the ceremony will often be remembered right along with the events of the day. The songs that are popular for graduations change from year to year. These are 10 of the best and most popular for 2006.
Don't miss the list of Top 10 Graduation Songs for 2007.
1. Vitamin C - Graduation (Friends Forever)
Colleen Fitzpatrick, the former lead vocalist for the group Eve's Plum, recorded under the name Vitamin C as a solo artist. This song was one of the standout cuts on the album Vitamin C, released in 1999. It was an instant graduation classic pulling in the power of memories in years to come and the value of friends forever. It works well sung live with a chorus as well.
2. Cast of 'Rent' - Seasons of Love
Songs that originated in Broadway musicals often work very well for ceremonial events like graduation. This ode to the measuring of time through love from Rent follows in the tradition of other past great graduation songs from A Chorus Line and Wicked.
3. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
This is probably the perfect graduation song for those who never felt they completely fit in during high school. However, Kelly Clarkson's inspiring expression of the desire to spread one's wings wide to escape the mundane has universal appeal
4. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
This is the only song which appears in both the graduation list and the prom songs list on this site. It is a great Green Day song for transitional events that appeals equally well to mainstream pop and rock fans.
5. Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance
There is no other song that is better at reminding us of the importance of being totally engaged, keeping our sense of awe at the world, and recognizing the importance of fun in life.
6. Eve 6 - Here's to the Night
This lush, wistful ballad will leave many graduates misty-eyed thinking of the memorable moments of the years shared with their friends.
7. R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
If you have a choir at your graduation ceremony, this is the perfect song to give them to sing. It is pure inspiration for the future.
8. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
This spoken word novelty is one of the most unusual hit songs of the past decade. The nuggets of wisdom dispensed here still carry resonance.
9. Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
This song simply gets more and more brilliant with passing time. Go back to the original Diana Ross recording and you'll be unlikely to find a better celebration of taking those important first steps into the wide world beyond school.
10. Boyz II Men - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
This Boyz II Men classic is a perfect all-occasion goodbye song.
