Western Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

StarlightMuse99rank/position

Muse – Starlight [Official Music Video]

MUSE often has relatively dark themes and tones.

However, I think their melodic sense shines most in brighter songs.

Their sound design, which evokes new departures and fresh beginnings, is something I’d love to hear at an entrance ceremony.

While it doesn’t have much speed, it’s a track that leaves you feeling refreshed.

You Get What You GiveNew Radicals100rank/position

New Radicals – You Get What You Give (Official Music Video)

Bursting onto the scene like a comet in the late 1990s, the New Radicals went on hiatus after releasing just one album.

Centered around singer-songwriter Gregg Alexander, the band’s debut single, released in 1998, became a major hit not only in the United States but also in the UK and Canada.

Set to a memorable sound featuring bright, buoyant piano and guitar, the song highlights the importance of believing in the power within yourself.

It’s also known for being covered in the graduation episode of the popular TV series Glee, and it continues to be cherished as a song perfectly suited to moments of departure.

Its powerful message—gently encouraging graduates who want to look ahead even as they carry anxieties about stepping into a new environment—is part of its enduring appeal.