[For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Convey Gratitude and Support
As graduation season approaches, many people may find themselves struggling to choose the perfect song to give.
Gratitude for friends who are setting off, excitement for the new life ahead, and a touch of sadness—those complex feelings are ones you want to convey through music.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of songs to dedicate to graduates and uplifting tracks perfect for graduation ceremonies.
From gentle tunes that give a reassuring push forward to moving pieces that bring tears to your eyes, we’ve gathered graduation songs from various perspectives.
You’re sure to find a heartfelt track that will beautifully mark this important new beginning.
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[For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Convey Gratitude and Support (141–150)
Goodbye, thank you.chanyu i
It’s a heartwarming song filled with gratitude and cheers for graduates.
Carried by the gentle tones of the piano, the lyrics resonate as they both lament parting with cherished friends met in high school and convey a sense of hope for the future.
Chanyu-i’s clear, pure vocals deeply touch the listener’s heart.
Released in February 2022, the track gained attention on TikTok and struck a chord with many people.
It’s a song you’ll want to play at graduations, farewell gatherings, and other moments of parting with important people.
It might loosen your tear ducts, but it will surely leave you with a warm feeling.
Graduation PhotoArai Yumi
Released in 1975 during the Yumi Arai era, this song is still heard in many places during graduation season and is surely one of the timeless classics.
Yuming’s straightforward singing beautifully captures the feelings of a fresh, young woman.
The backing musicians on the original version evoke the atmosphere of Japanese A.O.R.
of that time.
Petals, heralding the beginningsakura shimeji
A heartwarming graduation song from Sakura Shimeji.
The cherry blossom–themed lyrics gently embrace both parting and new beginnings.
Imbued with the feelings of members who experienced student life during the COVID-19 pandemic, this work was released as a digital single in February 2023.
The phrase “I wish today were the beginning” leaves a strong impression, tenderly depicting both lingering attachment to the past and hope for the future.
It’s a perfect track for background music at graduation ceremonies or farewell parties, and is recommended for anyone who wants to express gratitude before parting with someone important.
We Look Up to You with Respect
I saw an article saying this song isn’t sung as much at recent graduation ceremonies, but I think many people still sang it at theirs! When people think of graduation, I bet this is the song that comes to mind for many.
The lyrics express gratitude to teachers and friends, making it a perfect fit as a graduation song.
Graduation — goodbyes are for tomorrowTakkī & Tsubasa
Released in February 2003 by Tackey & Tsubasa, this song conveys a sense of frustration and feeling somewhat unaccepted through its lyrics, capturing the raw emotions of a breakup.
True to its title, “Graduation ~Sayonara wa Ashita no Tame ni,” the lyrics suggest that farewells exist for the sake of the future, making it a track that also carries a positive, forward-looking message.
determination
The song “Ketsui” (“Determination”) is also popular as a graduation song sung at school commencement ceremonies.
It is filled with heartfelt messages expressing honest feelings toward teachers who were sometimes kind and sometimes corrected our mistakes during school life.
Since it was composed as a choral piece, it’s also recommended to perform it with mixed voices or by separate parts.
Set to a melody that conveys both strength and beauty, the song expresses a resolve to live without forgetting what we learned from our teachers.
How about singing a choral piece that brings back memories of the days you’ve spent so far?
MY GRADUATIONSPEED
It has been covered by various artists and has long been cherished as a graduation classic.
The song portrays setting off from a past love, overflowing with a bittersweet feeling.
Even if it’s over, it doesn’t mean everything is lost—its lyrics convey that kind of bravado, along with the determination to move forward on one’s own two feet.