RAG MusicGraduation
A lovely graduation song

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

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!

Playlist

[For the Big Day] A Collection of Classic Western Songs to Gift at Entrance Ceremonies [2026]
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastHot to Go!Chappell Roan
Hot to Go!Chappell Roanplay_arrow
Chapel Loan's synth-pop
2eastBaby StepsOlivia Dean
Baby StepsOlivia Deanplay_arrow
Cheering on a new life with Olivia Dean’s “Baby Steps”
3eastBeat Yourself UpCharlie Puth
Beat Yourself UpCharlie Puthplay_arrow
Cheer on your new life with Charlie Puth’s new song
4eastI’m GoodJelly Roll
I’m GoodJelly Rollplay_arrow
Jerry Roll’s new song, a hopeful, positive anthem
5eastDriveEd Sheeran
DriveEd Sheeranplay_arrow
Ed Sheeran F1 movie theme song
6eastLive ForeverOasis
Live ForeverOasisplay_arrow
Cheer on your new life with the Oasis song of hope
7eastHeadphones OnAddison Rae
Headphones OnAddison Raeplay_arrow
Introduce Addison Rae’s soothing songs
8eastUp From The BottomLinkin Park
Up From The BottomLinkin Parkplay_arrow
Linkin Park's new song is the cheer song for the school entrance ceremony
9eastgirl, get upDoechii & SZA
girl, get upDoechii & SZAplay_arrow
A powerful anthem to help you regain confidence in a new environment
10eastLovin MyselfAva Max
Lovin MyselfAva Maxplay_arrow
Dance pop that gives you the courage to love yourself
11eastBeautiful PeopleDavid Guetta & Sia
Beautiful PeopleDavid Guetta & Siaplay_arrow
Getter and Sia’s dance-pop cheers on the school entrance ceremony
12eastI BelieveKillswitch Engage
I BelieveKillswitch Engageplay_arrow
Killswitch gives me courage with songs of hope
13east360Charli XCX
360Charli XCXplay_arrow
Charli XCX’s self-affirmation song
14eastGood NewsShaboozey
Good NewsShaboozeyplay_arrow
Shabuji’s new song gently resonates in the heart
15eastUnderdogRoddy Ricch
UnderdogRoddy Ricchplay_arrow
A strong will to push forward even in adversity
16eastHigh HopesPanic! At The Disco
High HopesPanic! At The Discoplay_arrow
Panic! at the Disco’s hopeful song
17eastYou Might Like ItJason Mraz
You Might Like ItJason Mrazplay_arrow
Mullaz’s new song: a track to cheer on your new life
18eastBest Day Of My LifeAmerican Authors
Best Day Of My LifeAmerican Authorsplay_arrow
A classic anthem to life that inspires hope and courage
19eastAll My Life ft. J. ColeLil Durk
All My Life ft. J. ColeLil Durkplay_arrow
Lil Durk’s new song is a masterpiece that tackles social issues
20eastHere Comes the SunThe Beatles
Here Comes the SunThe Beatlesplay_arrow
A classic song that celebrates the arrival of spring and hope
21eastMy ReplyThe Ataris
My ReplyThe Atarisplay_arrow
A new beginning for a punk band
22eastME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco)Taylor Swift
ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco)Taylor Swiftplay_arrow
Taylor's shift from country to pop
23eastFireworkKaty Perry
FireworkKaty Perryplay_arrow
an encouraging pop song by Katy Perry
24eastHello HappinessChaka Khan
Hello HappinessChaka Khanplay_arrow
Chaka Khan’s powerful and easy-to-listen-to vocals
25eastWanna Be Startin’ Somethin’Michael Jackson
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'Michael Jacksonplay_arrow
Michael Jackson’s classic songs for entrance ceremonies
26eastI Ain’t WorriedOneRepublic
I Ain't WorriedOneRepublicplay_arrow
A song by OneRepublic with an impressive whistle
27eastI Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peasplay_arrow
An uplifting song that sings of life's hopes
28eastFlyNicki Minaj ft. Rihanna
FlyNicki Minaj ft. Rihannaplay_arrow
Collaborative songs by black singers
29eastmy futureBillie Eilish
my futureBillie Eilishplay_arrow
Introduction to Billie Eilish’s calm ballads
30eastCoolJonas Brothers
CoolJonas Brothersplay_arrow
The new song by the Jonas Brothers is cool
31eastSuddenly I SeeKT Tunstall
Suddenly I SeeKT Tunstallplay_arrow
KT Tunstall’s signature songs used in films
32eastStronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)Kelly Clarkson
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)Kelly Clarksonplay_arrow
Kelly Clarkson's defiant anthem
33eastViva La VidaColdplay
Viva La VidaColdplayplay_arrow
A song of courage celebrating a new beginning
34eastHopeArlo Parks
HopeArlo Parksplay_arrow
A hopeful, beautiful song by Arlo Parks
35eastHere’s To The NightEve 6
Here's To The NightEve 6play_arrow
A powerful song to celebrate a friend
36eastWelcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance
Welcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romanceplay_arrow
The appeal of My Chemical Romance’s signature songs
37eastPhotographNickelback
PhotographNickelbackplay_arrow
Sing of a beautiful past and future with a deep, husky voice
38eastTop Of The WorldCarpenters
Top Of The WorldCarpentersplay_arrow
A classic Carpenters song with positive lyrics
39eastNow That I Found YouCarly Rae Jepsen
Now That I Found YouCarly Rae Jepsenplay_arrow
Introduction to Carly Rae Jepsen’s catchy pop tracks
40eastBrand New DayDizzee Rascal
Brand New DayDizzee Rascalplay_arrow
Make a fresh start with Dizzee Rascal’s classic
41eastA Million DreamsThe Greatest Showman Cast
A Million DreamsThe Greatest Showman Castplay_arrow
A moving song that sings of dreams and hope
42eastBreakawayKelly Clarkson
BreakawayKelly Clarksonplay_arrow
Popular at graduation ceremonies, now catching on at entrance ceremonies too
43eastNew DayAlicia Keys
New DayAlicia Keysplay_arrow
A song that celebrates a new day
44eastGood Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Day
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Dayplay_arrow
A New Beginning After Returning to Drugs
45eastAlrightKendrick Lamar
AlrightKendrick Lamarplay_arrow
Kendrick Lamar’s classic song
46east(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)Beastie Boys
(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)Beastie Boysplay_arrow
Singing about the right to enjoy life in the Beastie Boys’ classic song
47eastShake Your RumpBeastie Boys
Shake Your RumpBeastie Boysplay_arrow
An aggressive hip-hop track by the Beastie Boys
48eastGood FeelingFlo Rida
Good FeelingFlo Ridaplay_arrow
A rousing send-off song driven by EDM and rap
49eastUptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronson
Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronsonplay_arrow
A smash hit energetic funk track
50eastyes, and?Ariana Grande
yes, and?Ariana Grandeplay_arrow
Ariana promotes self-affirmation in her new song
51eastIt’s My LifeBon Jovi
It's My LifeBon Joviplay_arrow
I can get courage from Bon Jovi’s fight song
52eastShake It OutFlorence & The Machine
Shake It OutFlorence & The Machineplay_arrow
Florence's iconic song of encouragement
53eastWhateverOasis
WhateverOasisplay_arrow
Oasis songs make me feel positive
54eastWham Bam Shang-A-LangSilver
Wham Bam Shang-A-LangSilverplay_arrow
An American band, an upbeat love song
55eastWith A Little Help From My FriendsThe Beatles
With A Little Help From My FriendsThe Beatlesplay_arrow
The importance of a spirit of challenge and friendship
56eastTitle HolderThe Interrupters
Title HolderThe Interruptersplay_arrow
Be proud like a titleholder
57eastWe’ve Only Just BegunCarpenters
We’ve Only Just BegunCarpentersplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of the hopes of a new life
58eastDon’t Stop Me NowQueen
Don't Stop Me NowQueenplay_arrow
A timeless song brimming with happiness that evokes a sense of hope.
59eastWhat Was I Made For?Billie Eilish
What Was I Made For?Billie Eilishplay_arrow
Encourage self-exploration with Billie’s signature song
60eastStarting OverChris Stapleton
Starting OverChris Stapletonplay_arrow
Boost your confidence and hope with songs that support your new life
61eastChangesDavid Bowie
ChangesDavid Bowieplay_arrow
A song for an entrance ceremony that traces the path and searches
62eastNo Such ThingJohn Mayer
No Such ThingJohn Mayerplay_arrow
John Mayer's Freedom and New Beginnings
63eastDon’t Stop Believin’Journey
Don’t Stop Believin’Journeyplay_arrow
Journey’s signature song is perfect for entrance ceremonies.
64eastEvery HourKanye West
Every HourKanye Westplay_arrow
Kanye West’s go-to song for graduation ceremonies
65eastBrand New DaySting
Brand New DayStingplay_arrow
Sting’s “Brand New Day” is a perfect classic for starting a new life
66eastPermission to DanceBTS
Permission to DanceBTSplay_arrow
Be yourself with BTS’s fight song
67eastEver Ever AfterCarrie Underwood
Ever Ever AfterCarrie Underwoodplay_arrow
An inspiring ballad by country singer Carrie
68eastHungry Like The WolDuran Duran
Hungry Like The WolDuran Duranplay_arrow
A rival anthem marked by distinctive synths
69eastMr Blue SkyElectric Light Orchestra
Mr Blue SkyElectric Light Orchestraplay_arrow
A perfect song by ELO for a spring entrance ceremony
70eastTongue TiedGrouplove
Tongue TiedGrouploveplay_arrow
An indie song was used in a commercial.
71eastZORAJamila Woods
ZORAJamila Woodsplay_arrow
Jameyla Woods’s soulful song
72eastIt Is What It IsJenna Raine
It Is What It IsJenna Raineplay_arrow
A song that teaches the importance of living positively even in difficult times
73eastI Can See Clearly NowJohnnyNash
I Can See Clearly NowJohnnyNashplay_arrow
An upbeat song perfect for a fresh start in spring
74eastCan’t Stop the Feeling!Justin Timberlake
Can't Stop the Feeling!Justin Timberlakeplay_arrow
A positive song that expresses the joy that makes you want to dance
75eastCelebrationKool and The Gang
CelebrationKool and The Gangplay_arrow
Celebration anthem by Kool & the Gang
76eastBorn This WayLady Gaga
Born This WayLady Gagaplay_arrow
The importance of staying true to yourself in Lady Gaga’s iconic song
77eastRain On MeLady Gaga, Ariana Grande
Rain On MeLady Gaga, Ariana Grandeplay_arrow
A collaboration song by Gaga and Ariana
78eastOne DayMatisyahu
One DayMatisyahuplay_arrow
Sing about peace and positivity in reggae
79eastWanna Be Startin’ Somethin’Michael Jackson
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'Michael Jacksonplay_arrow
Michael Jackson's entrance ceremony song
80eastOne That Got AwayMichael Ray
One That Got AwayMichael Rayplay_arrow
Michael Ray's refreshing song
81eastStarlightMuse
StarlightMuseplay_arrow
MUSE’s bright melody is suitable for entrance ceremonies.
82eastUnwrittenNatasha Bedingfield
UnwrittenNatasha Bedingfieldplay_arrow
Lyrics that encourage easing anxieties about a new life
83eastYou Get What You GiveNew Radicals
You Get What You GiveNew Radicalsplay_arrow
A poppy, happy song that dispels anxiety
84eastThe ShowNiall Horan
The ShowNiall Horanplay_arrow
Niall Horan’s new song is a perfect classic for entrance ceremonies.
85eastFeeling GoodNina Simone
Feeling GoodNina Simoneplay_arrow
Cheering on your new life with a classic by Nina Simone
86eastRUNAWAYOneRepublic
RUNAWAYOneRepublicplay_arrow
OneRepublic’s “RUNAWAY” is a suitable song for an entrance ceremony.
87eastGood TimeOwl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
Good TimeOwl City & Carly Rae Jepsenplay_arrow
Collaboration song by Owl City and Carly Rae
88eastLet’s Go CrazyPrince
Let's Go CrazyPrinceplay_arrow
A song of determination to walk through life
89eastFight SongRachel Platten
Fight SongRachel Plattenplay_arrow
Gaining courage from Rachel’s cheer song
90eastTell Me BabyRed Hot Chili Peppers
Tell Me BabyRed Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
Melodic songs and music videos by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
91eastDance AgainSelena Gomez
Dance AgainSelena Gomezplay_arrow
Regain confidence with Selena’s classic and step into a new beginning
92eastAll StarSmash Mouth
All StarSmash Mouthplay_arrow
An uplifting song about an all-star athlete
93eastWhy Can’t We Be Friends?Smash Mouth
Why Can't We Be Friends?Smash Mouthplay_arrow
A song with the theme that anyone can become friends, regardless of skin color or gender.
94eastI’ll Be There For YouThe Rembrandts
I'll Be There For YouThe Rembrandtsplay_arrow
Friends theme song smash hit
95eastTodayThe Smashing Pumpkins
TodayThe Smashing Pumpkinsplay_arrow
A blessing song for living every day, lightly sung by Smashing Pumpkins
96eastGraduation (Friends Forever)Vitamin C
Graduation (Friends Forever)Vitamin Cplay_arrow
Don't throw away the past, or you'll lose yourself.
97eastShut Up and DanceWalk the Moon
Shut Up and DanceWalk the Moonplay_arrow
A positive song that gives you a push to take a step forward in life.
98eastDancing QueenABBA
Dancing QueenABBAplay_arrow
Have fun in the new semester with Dancing Queen
99eastHappyPharrell Williams
HappyPharrell Williamsplay_arrow
Overflowing with happy fun
100eastWe are the ChampionsQueen
We are the ChampionsQueenplay_arrow
Queen's songs are sung at soccer stadiums and loved around the world.
101eastYou Raise Me UpJosh Groban
You Raise Me UpJosh Grobanplay_arrow
Celtic masterpiece, a song of hope and courage
102eastFucking PerfectP!nk
Fucking PerfectP!nkplay_arrow
Encouraging myself that I’m the best even if I’m not perfect
103eastEspressoSabrina Carpenter
EspressoSabrina Carpenterplay_arrow
A powerful song that supports the dreams of young people