Western Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

Hey JudeThe Beatles81rank/position

The Beatles – The Beatles – Hey Jude (Official Music Video) [Remastered 2015]

A masterpiece among masterpieces! No matter how much time passes, it continues to move people’s hearts.

This song was given by Paul McCartney, John Lennon’s close friend, to John’s son, Julian Lennon, who was hurt by John’s divorce from Yoko Ono, after John had grown up not knowing his father.

Their warm friendship and Paul’s kindness will surely resonate—without a word—even in the hearts of students who don’t know the song.

It’s a wonderful piece to dedicate to children who are about to spread their wings.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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HeroMariah Carey82rank/position

Mariah Carey – Hero (Official HD Video)

Mariah Carey’s song Hero.

Everyone has moments when they think, “At the very least, I want to be on my own side!” Hero by Mariah Carey is a song I want you—someone who wants to be strong—to listen to.

Her voice feels as if it’s right there beside you.

If you’ve had times before graduation when you felt you had to pull yourself together for entrance exams and the like, listen to Hero and let it lift your spirits!

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konii

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Who SaysSelena Gomez & The Scene83rank/position

Selena Gomez & The Scene – Who Says

Released in 2011, this song of hers is one you should listen to when you’re feeling unsure of yourself.

The lyrics carry a message like: Who said you don’t have talent or aren’t wonderful? Don’t jump to conclusions—hold your head high and live with confidence.

Hearing it from someone as grounded as she is might just make you think, maybe that’s true.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Don’t You (Forget About Me)Simple Minds84rank/position

Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)

Simple Minds’ ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ is a song you want to listen to at the milestone of graduation.

Ever since it was used in an iconic scene in a coming-of-age film, its melody has lingered in the hearts of many.

In contrast to its melancholy melodic line, the lyrics carry a strong will to maintain bonds with friends, making it a work that finds a ray of hope even within the sadness of parting.

For everyone leaving school and setting out on a new path, it will indelibly etch unforgettable moments in music.

While holding past days close to your heart, this is a song that cheers you on as you take your first step toward the future.

Welcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance85rank/position

My Chemical Romance – Welcome To The Black Parade [Official Music Video] [HD]

While rooted in post-hardcore, My Chemical Romance distilled a wide range of genres—goth, classic hard rock, heavy metal, UK rock—through their unique sensibility, achieving major commercial success and helping lead the emo boom of the 2000s.

Their 2006 masterpiece, Welcome to the Black Parade, revived the classic rock-opera concept album for the modern era and elevated them into a “band that defines its time,” making it one of the standout albums of the 2000s.

The title track, Welcome to the Black Parade, centers on the theme of death, and some may feel it’s entirely unsuitable as background music for a celebratory entrance ceremony.

For those who feel that way, I urge you to read the lyrics closely: the story actually follows a protagonist facing death who, while confronting suffering and hardship, discovers a glimmer of light.

The song’s dramatically unfolding structure evokes the very arc of a human life.

It isn’t a bright, hopeful tune, but it’s precisely the kind of song that can give courage to those who find strength in this sort of music—a true classic you should hear.

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KOH-1

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