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

Terminal04 Limited Sazabys

04 Limited Sazabys「Terminal」(Official Music Video)

A fast-paced rock number by 04 Limited Sazabys, perfect for listening to during the spring season of farewells.

It’s included on their major-label debut album “CAVU,” released in April 2015, which reached No.

6 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart.

While GEN’s high-pitched vocals accentuate the sense of poignancy, the brisk sound pushes your emotions forward.

The lyrics depict confronting self-loathing and loneliness while choosing not to close off the future and continuing to move ahead.

It’s ideal for graduation season because it gives you the courage to take the next step without sinking completely into sadness.

It’s the kind of song that makes you want to send someone off with a smile even through tears; perform it at a graduation live show or a farewell party, and it’s sure to fill the venue with passionate emotion.

Amazing Gracego!go!vanillas

go!go!vanillas – “Amazing Race” Music Video

A song heralding go! go! vanillas’ fresh start, created in celebration of their bassist’s return after suffering serious injuries in a traffic accident at the end of 2018 and undergoing about 306 days of rehabilitation.

Released as a single in 2020, it was also used as the opening theme for TBS’s CDTV Saturday.

The gratitude and joy of being able to make music as a foursome again are expressed through a sound that blends rock ’n’ roll drive with country and Eastern flavors.

Its universal message of overcoming hardship and setting off once more is sure to resonate with graduates who have run the long race of student life.

It’s a number that looks back on the days spent with friends while giving you a push to step onto a new path.

Cherry tree-lined roadWhiteberry

WHITEBERRY Sakura Namiki Michi – Cherry Blossom Tree-Lined Road

If you’re looking for a track that captures both the warmth of spring and a touch of bittersweet feeling, check out the single WHITEBERRY released in April 2001.

It was their first single with both lyrics and music written by the band members themselves, imprinting the unfiltered sensibilities of their teenage years directly into the sound.

Featured in a commercial for Asahi Soft Drinks’ Mitsuya Cider, the song peaked at No.

16 on the Oricon weekly chart and is also included on the album “Chameleon.” The lyrics—perfect for the milestone of graduation—evoke the exhilaration of stepping into a new place as you walk down cherry blossom-lined streets, layered with a tender affection for the memories you carry in your heart.

Its brisk band sound and refreshing melody leave a poignant afterglow that tightens your chest once the song ends.

Highly recommended if you want to wrap up a graduation live set on a bright yet subtly wistful note.

Forget-me-notMarushii

Marcy – Forget-me-not (Official Music Video)

A spring song by Marcy that captures the bittersweet sorrow of farewells that come with the season’s arrival, alongside the complex desire to cheer on a loved one’s future.

Released in March 2021, the track features sound producer Akimitsu Homma and stands out with its crystal-clear band sound and dramatic arrangement.

It also drew significant attention for its lyrics at the time of release, reaching No.

1 on major lyrics sites’ popularity rankings.

The song delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist seeing off a lover who is setting out to chase their dreams—a finely crafted love song that holds both the loneliness of growing apart and the urge to give a supportive push.

It’s a perfect piece to perform for couples facing long-distance after graduation, or for anyone in the position of encouraging someone dear as they take on a new challenge.

Future airplaneakairo no gurittā

Red Glitter “Future Airplane” (Official Music Video)

A beloved graduation song that gently weaves together memories of high school—school routes, chimes, hallways, and the everyday moments with friends—this is the title track of Akairo no Glitter’s debut single.

Released in March 2015, the song was written based on vocalist Ryosuke Sato’s own experiences, and its lyrics, which hold both the ache of not being able to return to the past and the resolve to step forward into the future, resonate deeply.

Its catchy, solid melody powerfully propels the emotions, making it unforgettable after just one listen.

The fact that the music video and performance scenes were filmed at the members’ alma mater also lends a vivid sense of lived-in youth.

It’s a guitar rock number that warmly brightens any graduation live performance—recommended not only for students facing graduation, but for anyone experiencing a farewell with cherished friends.

Scooping up blueatarayo

ATARAYO – Scoop the Blue (Music Video)

This is a song by Atarayo that conveys how they cherish the limited time of youth while enjoying it to the fullest.

The gentle band sound emphasizes a refreshing atmosphere, with the acoustic guitar adding a touch of color and evoking a sense of the sadness that comes with time passing.

Because they know that after graduation they’ll each go their separate ways and grow apart, the desire to treasure the time they can spend together now comes through strongly.

The lyrics, which incorporate natural scenery, may also evoke scenes from a graduation trip.

Capturing both joy and loneliness in the vocals, and using the acoustic guitar to add poignancy, seem to be the key points.

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bookmarkkuriipuhaipe

CreepHyp - “Bookmark” (MUSIC VIDEO)

This song was created as the campaign song for the FM802 and TSUTAYA collaboration project “FM802 × TSUTAYA ACCESS!”.

While the original version features an array of renowned musicians, the one I’m introducing here is the version by CreepHyp alone.

The lyrics describe realizing how precious everyday life used to be after your circumstances have changed.

It’s guitar rock that’s perfect for spring, when emotions run high.

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Araki Jakkan

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