[Graduation Live & Farewell Concert] Graduation Songs You’ll Want to Play with Your Band [2026]

Before the cherry blossoms bloomkinoko teikoku

Kinoko Teikoku – Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom

This song by Kinoko Teikoku feels like it portrays someone looking back on youthful memories while solidifying their resolve to set out on a new journey.

It moves at a relaxed tempo, but the choruses swell in intensity, leaving a strong impression and conveying both wistfulness and overflowing emotion.

The restrained vocal delivery is also striking—it seems to express the struggle to hold back the youthful memories that threaten to shake that resolve to depart.

The contrast between gentle sounds and powerful ones is crucial; if you pay attention to this in performance, it should help evoke the bittersweetness of youth.

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kappamaki

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MY GRADUATIONChekkāzu

MY GRADUATION

A gemlike ballad that richly portrays the milestone of graduation.

Set to a gentle melody, it tenderly depicts scenes like exchanging buttons on school uniforms and walking together to the station.

Looking back on memories from ages 16 to 18, it masterfully conveys both the sweetness of young love and the poignancy of parting.

Included on The Checkers’ album “GO” and released in 1987, it was the group’s first self-produced work, with lyrics by Fumiya Fujii and music by Susumu Takeuchi.

Deeply rooted in Japan’s music scene as a staple to hear during graduation season, this song is wholeheartedly recommended for anyone who cherishes memories of their youth.

Azure Swimnishina

Nishina – Seiran Yūei [Official Video]

A song sung by NISHINA that portrays memories with a friend and parting ways.

Her vocals, which seem to convey real pain, leave a strong impression.

It expresses the feeling of moving forward without knowing the right path, and the resolve to keep going even if it means being separated from a friend.

It carries both a sense of poignancy and grandeur, and its distinctive, floating feel also conveys anxiety.

Centered on piano and strings, it has a gentle ambiance, so an acoustic arrangement might work well when performing it with a band.

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kappamaki

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Even if we forget springaibii karaa

Ivy Color [Even If We Forget Spring] Music Video

“Even If We Forget Spring” has a sound that appeals across generations and is a perfect love song for graduation scenes.

It’s recommended for those who don’t want to pick a stereotypical “graduation song” and for those who want to enjoy performing while dedicating a piece.

Though people say “spring is the season of partings” and the lyrics are a bit bittersweet, the song’s energetic melody line will make for a lively thank-you party.

Even if the audience doesn’t know the song, they’ll enjoy it if they clap along to the performance.

It’s sure to motivate the band during practice, too.

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tsukada moe

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Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Day

Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) [Official Music Video] [4K UPGRADE]

The title “Good Riddance” means something like “I’m relieved that the annoying person is gone,” but in this song it also seems to carry a somewhat wistful nuance.

It’s said to be a staple at American high school and college graduations.

It’s also well-known among fans that during Green Day’s encores, Billie typically sings this song with just an acoustic guitar.

Night on the Galactic RailroadGOING STEADY

GOING STEADY Night on the Galactic Railroad

GOING STEADY’s signature song is a moving track themed around youth and dreams.

Influenced by the fairy tales of Kenji Miyazawa, the lyrics are imbued with a bittersweet longing for love and a strong will to soar into a new world.

The song is included on the album “Sakura no Uta,” released in July 2001, and has been used as a radio program ending theme as well as in the film “Fish Story” (Shonen Merikensack).

It’s a perfect choice to perform at graduation concerts or farewell events—any moment that marks the close of a youthful chapter.

Listen to this piece, brimming with youthful energy and fleeting passion, and it’s sure to resonate with your heart!

together; along with; bothWANIMA

WANIMA – Together / THE FIRST TAKE

WANIMA’s “Tomoni” is regarded as a song well suited to the new beginning that graduation represents.

Their warm message and refreshing melody will give courage to young people stepping onto a new path.

And not only as a graduation chorus—performing it as a guitar-and-vocal piece makes it even more moving.

It’s a recommended song to gift at life’s milestones, entrusting feelings of friendship and gratitude to the music.

It carries a powerful ability to connect hearts in many different situations.