Western music that colors graduation ceremonies. English graduation songs that resonate with the heart.

Believe ItCimorelli

Cimorelli – Believe It

Cimorelli is a six-member female group from the United States.

They mainly uploaded covers of other artists’ songs on YouTube, which gained popularity and made them famous.

They are six real-life sisters, and each of them can play an instrument.

In this song, they call out, “Time isn’t infinite.

Now is the time to raise your voice and step out.

Believe!”

My FriendsRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends [Official Music Video]

The world-renowned rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1982, they have remained at the forefront for over 40 years with their unique sound that fuses funk and rock.

This song is a single from their 1995 album One Hot Minute and is known as a quiet, introspective ballad in their discography.

Its lyrics, which seem to reach out and say “I’m here for you,” resonate deeply as they stand beside friends in their loneliness and pain.

It’s a track that, at the milestone of graduation, reminds us of the importance of bonds and mutual support among friends.

Though not flashy, its gentle melody holds a profound kindness, making it a classic we highly recommend to anyone who values friendship.

Everybody’s Free To Wear SunscreenBaz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann – Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen

Let me introduce a unique, speech-style number created by Baz Luhrmann, known as a film director and stage director.

Released as a single in February 1999, this track was based on a fictional commencement address written by newspaper columnist Mary Schmich.

It begins by emphasizing the importance of wearing sunscreen and gently unfolds with life wisdom about human connection and self-care.

The monologue, set over a trip-hop-inspired, chill sound, slips into the heart without feeling pushy.

It topped the charts in the UK and Ireland and has become a graduation-season staple beloved around the world.

It’s a song that quietly gives you a nudge forward on the day you take your next step.

FriendsMeghan Trainor

Friends

Meghan Trainor is known for blending retro elements like doo-wop and soca into contemporary pop.

She broke out globally in 2014 with “All About That Bass” and is a powerhouse singer-songwriter who won the Grammy for Best New Artist.

This track is a friendship-themed pop tune included on the deluxe edition of her 2016 album Thank You.

Amid the many love songs out there, its message—that the time you spend with your friends is what truly makes life shine—feels refreshing.

With its uptempo rhythm and easy-to-chant melody, it’s irresistibly sing-along-worthy.

It’s the perfect song for anyone who wants to express gratitude to the friends they’ve shared time with at the milestone of graduation.

The RoseBette Midler

The Rose – Bette Midler (Japanese lyric subtitles) English & Japanese Lyrics

What is love? This universal question is painted with poetic metaphors—rivers, knives, and flowers—in this song by Bette Midler.

Recorded for the 1979 film of the same name, it was used as the theme song over the end credits.

Woven only from simple piano and strings, the ballad may not be flashy, but it quietly seeps into the listener’s heart.

The lyrics depict a seed sleeping beneath the winter snow that, bathed in the spring sunlight, blossoms into a rose, carrying the message that even amid hardship, the seeds of hope exist.

In 1980, it reached No.

3 on the U.S.

singles chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

It seems only fitting that this hope-filled melody should grace graduation ceremonies, where new steps are taken forward.