Tear-jerking classic graduation songs! Recommended tracks for graduation movie BGM

Last teenYuika

Last Teen / “Yuika” [MV]

Yuika’s January 2025 number marks the milestone of the end of her teenage years, written in down-to-earth words.

With her 20th birthday just around the corner, she wrote and composed the song herself, candidly singing about the anxieties and hopes of becoming an adult, and the wavering feelings of not quite being one yet.

From small everyday realizations—like a messy room and high electricity bills—to tender thoughts about her changing self and the world around her, the lyrics are packed with a raw sensibility that resonates deeply.

Positioned as a counterpart to her earlier release “17-sai no Uta.”, this track serves as the final chapter in a series reflecting on her teen years.

It’s perfect for those standing at the threshold of graduation, looking back on who they’ve been while taking a new step forward.

The image of moving ahead despite fearing change mirrors the emotions of graduates.

We againSG

Us, Again – SG (Official Lyric Video)

This song captivates with heartfelt lyrics and a moving melody.

SG’s warm vocals gently embrace its touching theme of parting and reunion.

Released in April 2021, it gained popularity mainly on social media.

It’s also cherished as a graduation song, expressing memories with friends, the sadness of farewells, and the hope of meeting again.

It’s a perfect track for those starting a new path or anyone who has experienced saying goodbye to someone important.

Give this emotional song a listen—you’ll feel your heart swell every time.

Words of FarewellGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Words of Gift

GReeeeN’s “Okuru Kotoba” is the perfect song to color the season of farewells and new beginnings, the time of graduation.

Filled with gratitude for teachers and friends and hope for the future, its heartwarming melody makes it ideal for a graduation video.

The lyrics convey the bonds shared with companions who will walk separate paths.

If you’re unsure what to choose, why not pick this song? Watching the footage while listening to it will surely become a lifelong memory.

Song of DepartureMr.Children

[Piano ver.] Tabidachi no Uta / Mr.Children -Full Lyrics- Covered by Hitomi Sano

“Tabidachi no Uta” is a song released in 2007 by the hugely popular band Mr.Children.

It was the theme song for the film “Koizora,” starring Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura, and it moved many students to tears at the time.

The song is told from the perspective of those who are seeing someone off.

Where there’s someone setting out on a journey, there’s always someone there to send them off.

It’s filled with feelings like “I want you to do your best” and “Let’s meet again.” It’s a perfect song for juniors to celebrate the graduation of seniors who have supported them.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Three Songs, Op. 7-1: Après un rêveGabriel Faure

Fauré: Three Songs, Op. 7-1: Après un rêve (version for Cello and Piano) [Naxos Classical Curation #Melancholic]

Gabriel Fauré, the great French composer renowned for his fantastical works, was a master who left numerous unparalleled masterpieces in the French music scene from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

This piece was composed in 1877 and premiered in Paris in January 1879.

With long-breathed melodies, it delicately portrays the sweetness of dreams and the poignancy of waking.

Beloved as a masterpiece for cello, it is often used as background music for flashback scenes in films and dramas.

At graduation ceremonies, playing it while current students see off the graduates, or during a quiet moment accompanying a slideshow of memories, will gently envelop the atmosphere of the venue.

I’m glad I met you.Inoue Sonoko

Sonoko Inoue – “I’m Glad I Met You” (short ver.)

Ballads that gently bring tears are great for graduation ceremonies, but upbeat, pop songs that make you cry with a smile are also recommended! “I’m Glad I Met You,” sung by singer-songwriter Sonoko Inoue, is a track from her first album, Hello.

Whether the “you” in the title is a friend, someone you like, a teacher, or even yourself, it might be lovely to listen while imagining your own “you.” The lyrics evoke youth and are perfect for graduation videos, so if you’re unsure what to choose, definitely give it a listen!

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miyabi

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globeYonezu Kenshi

Globe – Kenshi Yonezu [Mixed Choir Arrangement]

Released in July 2023 as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s film The Boy and the Heron, this single is also included on the album LOST CORNER.

Kenshi Yonezu created the track as an expression of his long-held admiration for the director.

Framing life as a long journey, the lyrics portray the strength to keep moving forward on one’s own feet, even through farewells and hardships—offering gentle support to children facing the significant milestone of graduation.

Beginning with a quiet piano and gradually building into a powerful, expansive sound, it delivers a moving experience well-suited to a graduation ceremony, where hope and uncertainty meet as new doors open.

It’s a song filled with a warm message that inspires the courage to take a step toward the future.