Western Music Entrance/Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

HappyPharrell Williams6rank/position

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Video)

At an entrance ceremony that marks the start of a new chapter, you can’t help but want to hear a song that makes you so excited you could dance! Pharrell Williams’s 2013 release “Happy” is a dance track that lifts your spirits.

After it was featured in the film Despicable Me 2, it quickly became a hot topic and was released as a single.

Its sound, infused with soul and funk, is poppy and bright! The lyrics about being unable to contain your joyful, high-energy self mirror the fluttering hearts of new students.

Listening to this song will make you look forward to the entrance ceremony even more!

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Dancing QueenABBA7rank/position

ABBA – Dancing Queen (Official Music Video)

You want to welcome brand-new days with a positive mindset, right? “Dancing Queen” is such a catchy song it’ll make you want to walk all the way to school with a spring in your step.

Released in 1976 by the Swedish pop group ABBA, it’s been covered by many Japanese artists.

Its bright, poppy synth sound and their refreshing vocals are truly soothing.

The lyrics—encouraging you to forget the little things, dance, and have fun—speak to everyone enjoying a vibrant school life.

It’s a song that makes you crave the feelings and experiences you can only have when you’re young!

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Viva La VidaColdplay8rank/position

Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Official Video)

Viva La Vida will embolden your heart as it flutters with nerves about a new classroom and classmates.

Released by the rock band Coldplay in 2008, the song drew attention for its genre-defying sound.

Its beautiful strings and percussion resonate to celebrate fresh beginnings.

The lyrics, which depict the life of a fictional king, echo school life, where we grow through a variety of experiences.

It’s a track that makes you feel life is beautiful—good parts and not-so-good parts included.

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Don’t Stop Me NowQueen9rank/position

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (Official Video)

The beautiful melody at the beginning and the gradually intensifying, fast-paced development—above all, the sense of joy that overflows throughout the song—make it a track that inspires hope for the life ahead.

It’s a masterpiece that almost always gets mentioned among Queen’s greatest hits and is highly popular even among fans.

I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas10rank/position

The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling (Official Music Video)

While the lyrics themselves sing about something like “Tonight will be a good night,” the underlying meaning feels more like, “Your life from here on out will surely get better, so you can relax.” It’s a song that lets you feel hopeful about a new beginning.