Western Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

What Was I Made For?Billie Eilish96rank/position

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? (Official Music Video)

A song perfectly suited to color a new beginning is Billie Eilish’s signature track “What Was I Made For?”.

Released on July 13, 2023, it was created for the film Barbie and strongly reflects that world.

It embodies the movie’s message through music, prompting each listener to question their own life and aiding in self-discovery.

Wondering what we were born for is something everyone experiences, and young people in particular often struggle with their identities.

While it might feel somewhat somber for an entrance ceremony, Billie’s wistful yet emotional vocals and melody, along with the lyrics, will gently encourage teenagers who are carrying various anxieties.

Every Teardrop Is a WaterfallColdplay97rank/position

Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall (Official Video)

This song by the British rock band Coldplay—well-known from Summer Sonic and Fuji Rock—titled “A Single Tear Is Like a Waterfall.” As the lyrics suggest with lines like “Even if I feel pain, I’ll keep holding this flag high” and “It’s not an ending, it’s a beginning,” it conveys the message that graduation is not the end but a start, and that even when things get tough, it’s important to keep going by staying true to your beliefs.

StarlightMuse98rank/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 Radicals99rank/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.

Beautiful DayU2100rank/position

U2 – Beautiful Day (Official Music Video)

This is a song that stands by those who have lost hope.

Even in difficult times, by focusing on the small happiness around us, it reminds us that life is beautiful.

It helps us rediscover the world’s beauty and diversity, and conveys the importance of freeing ourselves from material desires.

Released in October 2000, the song reached number one on the charts in many countries.

At the 2001 Grammy Awards, it won three categories and became one of U2’s signature tracks.

It’s recommended for those about to embark on a new beginning or journey, and for those who feel stuck in life.

It’s a song that will give you the courage to look forward.