A Collection of Moving Graduation Songs You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke! [Farewells, Friendship, and Fight Songs]

sepiaTakahashi Yuu

Yu Takahashi – Sepia

A song that sings about the importance of close people you can only meet once in a while amid busy days.

Praying that you’ll meet again and singing, “Let’s make it a smiling goodbye,” this piece seems perfect for pledging to reunite after graduation.

Its gentle piano accompaniment and passionate vocal delivery make for a comforting track.

GraduationTakahashi Yuu

Yu Takahashi “An Empty Kitchen”

When we think of graduation, besides farewells and loneliness, I think there’s also anxiety and a vague sense of hope.

Hearing Yu Takahashi’s sincere way of singing about that hazy hope and the sadness of the moment makes me want to belt it out at karaoke.

It’s not just for graduation—since the song also suits times like moving house or even at a small live gig, it’s a great choice when you want to let your feelings out.

CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Cheers

This song, a staple at weddings and graduations, is an anthem cheering on those standing at major turning points in life.

Its straightforward, masculine delivery grabs your heart and won’t let go.

It’s pretty cool if you can belt it out without looking at the lyrics.

Be My Baby on the LipsAKB48

[MV] Be My Baby on My Lips Short ver. / AKB48 [Official]

A very fast-paced, powerful melody, and a bittersweet love song about someone who can’t quite find the courage to take a step forward.

Strictly speaking, it’s not a song about graduation, but since it was Minami Takahashi’s graduation single—she had supported AKB48 for many years—it can be considered a major milestone track.

BYE-BYE-BYEGO-BANG’S

GO-BANG’S 「BYE-BYE-BYE」-1991

Although it’s a song about a breakup between a man and a woman, it can be reinterpreted for friends parting ways, making it perfect for graduation, too.

In particular, during the chorus with the line “Bye-bye, everyone, bye-bye,” having everyone sing together or having the choir sing the “bye-bye” parts while everyone waves to each other creates a moving, sentimental atmosphere.

GraduationZONE

(PV) ZONE – Sotsugyou

This is a song by the girls’ band ZONE set on the day of the graduation ceremony.

The guitar phrase in the interlude uses a scale based on the school chime, giving it a nostalgic feel.

Sing your loneliness with aching tenderness, and then take a strong step forward.

proofflumpool

flumpool “Proof” Music Video (Full Chorus ver.)

This song was created with graduations and choral singing in mind—it was selected as the compulsory piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition (junior high division), and the CD even comes with sheet music for mixed three-part chorus.

It’s a song we especially want middle and high school students to sing.

Perform it with feeling.