A lovely graduation song

[For the Big Day] A Collection of Classic Western Songs to Gift at Entrance Ceremonies [2026]

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.

While there are plenty of straightforward entrance-themed songs, celebratory tracks, and pep anthems in J-pop that are perfect for entrance ceremonies—a major milestone for teens that arrives with spring—there are surely young music fans who are searching for Western music too.

In this article, we’ve selected hit songs and popular numbers from Western music that we highly recommend listening to as you head into your entrance ceremony.

From timeless classics to recent hits, we’ve put together a wide-ranging lineup that crosses eras and genres.

Be sure to use it as a reference!

[For the Big Day] A Collection of Classic Western Songs to Gift at Entrance Ceremonies [2026] (71–80)

It’s My LifeBon Jovi

Bon Jovi – It’s My Life (Official Music Video)

It's My LifeBon Jovi

When I’m feeling nervous or anxious before a big moment, the song that gives me courage is “It’s My Life.” Released in 2000 by the American rock band Bon Jovi, it’s a track loved by many.

Its hard rock-driven performance pairs perfectly with an easy-to-listen-to pop melody.

The lyrics, which depict living in the moment and continuing to take on challenges, are perfect for anyone about to give their all in club activities or studies! It’s a standout number not only for its life-affirming message but also as an anthem of encouragement.

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ChangesDavid Bowie

Changes (2015 Remaster)

ChangesDavid Bowie

In the lyrics, it’s a song notable for the phrase “tracing the path and finding it.” It’s very well-known and extremely catchy, so you could say these lyrics are suitable for an entrance ceremony! It might also work well to play the song as the students enter.

Incidentally, when David Bowie was writing this song, there were changes in his personal life.

His wife, Angela, was pregnant, and Bowie seemed to be looking forward to having his own child and becoming a father…

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Hungry Like The WolDuran Duran

Hungry Like the Wolf (2009 Remaster)

Hungry Like The WolDuran Duran

A track with a catchy melody and a great sense of tempo, especially characterized by a “piko-piko” style synthesizer arpeggio.

In the lyrics, the singer compares themselves to a wolf, singing about the presence of rivals closing in and a hungry spirit.

I think it would even work well for an entrance ceremony! The lyrics’ unrealistic metaphors actually keep it from feeling too literal, so they don’t bother you.

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Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Day

Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) [Official Music Video] [4K UPGRADE]

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Day

A song about turning points in things and in life.

Its theme fits graduation ceremonies, but I think it’s a song about beginnings that only a punk band—infused with Billie Joe Armstrong’s feelings after recovering from drugs—could truly sing.

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It Is What It IsJenna Raine

Jenna Raine – It Is What It Is (Official Music Video)

It Is What It IsJenna Raine

To everyone standing at the starting line of a new life, Jenna Raine’s song “It Is What It Is” teaches us the importance of living with a positive attitude no matter what.

Since its release on July 21, 2023, this track has drawn attention, and it’s filled with forward-looking energy perfect for celebrating a new beginning like an entrance ceremony.

The title “It Is What It Is” doesn’t make much sense in a literal translation, but it’s a phrase native speakers often use with the nuance of “it can’t be helped” or “that’s just how it is.” Sung over brisk guitar backing, the lyrics remind us of the value of a breezy strength that lets you simply say “it is what it is” even when things don’t go well.

Even if a lot of things don’t work out, remember this song and enjoy your new days at your own pace!

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