My older brother recently finished his masters degree in less than two years since he finished his bachelors degree. I've been out of high school for three years now. But I have been thinking about his graduation and all my friends who are graduating this year. It also occurred to me that in about a year, I finish college as well. This list is dedicated to all the graduates of 2017. But this list is not just for the class of 2017 but for anyone who is moving towards a new chapter in life. These songs are not your most traditional graduation songs, but are songs I feel get the message across about what graduation is. This list is to remind everyone for the rest of the year to celebrate achievements, graduations, and enjoy and cherish each moment. Hopefully these songs can make it on your next summer or graduation party playlist!
"Catch my breath" Kelly Clarkson- The lyrics are perfect for graduation: "no one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that. Catch my breath, won't let them get me down, It's all so simple now"
"Happy"- Pharrell- The name of the song says it all it's so feel good and just gives you good vibes.
"Hey Summer"- Erin Bowman: The lyrics are perfect and the song really captures all of graduations emotions: "Take me back to freshman year I'll do it all again No worries not a single care, take me back to senior year man things change so fast It's like time just disappears hold on make it last"
"22"- Taylor Swift- A playlist isn't complete without Taylor Swift and this song is perfect for graduation.
"One Dance"-Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla- The lyrics also fit the graduation feel "That's why I need a one dance, one more time 'fore I go".
"Right Now"- Rihanna- These are my favorite lyrics "So get up right now 'Cause all we got is right now"
"Moment 4 Life" Nicki Minaj featuring Drake" Here are some of my favorite lyrics "I fly with the stars in the skies, I am no longer trying to survive, I believe that life is a prize,I wish that I could have this moment For life, for life, for life Cause in this moment I just feel so
Alive, alive, alive"
"Good Time, Good Life" Erin Bowman- I love these lyrics "Take a second, catch a breath if you need to, need to, that's okay (okay) Life in the fast track is where I live, this is my every day (okay)"
"The Night is Still Young"- Nicki Minaj- graduating isn't the end or the last meaningful thing in your life. There are so many amazing things your going to do in life. This song perfectly captures the feeling. Here are my favorite lyrics "I never worry, life is a journey
I just wanna enjoy the ride, What is the hurry? It's pretty early, It's ok, we'll take our time, The night is still young, The night is still young,The night is still young, And so are we".
"Rather Be"- Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne- Here are some of my favorite lyrics "When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be"
"Bounce" Calvin Harris featuring Kelis- Here are some of the lyrics "It's like I flicked a switch and now I'm feeling good,No way to stop it, now you wish that you could"
"Thinking About You" Calvin Harris featuring Ayah Mirar- "In a moment I know that everything could change, and I know that, my life would never be the same" Those are my favorite lyrics from the song. They explain how post graduation life can feel and be.
"Feels so close" by Calvin Harris- These are my favorite lyrics from the song "I feel so close to you right now It's a force field"
"Let's Go"- Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo- I love the lyrics they are about celebrating and moving forward. "it's not about what you've done, it's about what you doing,It's all about where you going, No Matter where you've been,Let's go".
"Give Life Back to Music" by Daft Punk- The beat and the song is so magical and light and feels like summer and graduation I love these lyrics "Let the music in tonight, Just turn on the music, Let the music of your life, give life back to music"
"Love at first sight" by Kylie Minogue. Okay so I know the title of this song love talks about "love" but honestly to me it's about more than like love in a relationship. Relationships aren't just romantic. The lyrics are to me at least can relate to emotions graduates experience and have experienced throughout their journeys in school. And it definitely could be played at a graduation party. The song is so upbeat and it feels like summer. Here are some of my favorite lyrics "Was tired of running out of luck, Thinking 'bout giving up yeah, Didn't know what to do, Then there was you ,And everything went from wrong to right,And the stars came out and filled up the sky, The music you were playing really blew my mind"
"Eyes on Horizon"- Dumblonde- The lyrics are in my opinion fitting to graduation and that whole experience. The lyrics are so beautiful and honestly make think of how I felt before and after graduation. Here are some of the incredible lyrics "Why don't we leave this now, it's not forever,shooting stars ignite over the dreams, Promise I'll find you wherever you may be, Living legends,you and me, Until the end".
"We own the night"-The Wanted- I love the lyrics "Tonight we own the night".
"Live it up"- Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull Here are some of the lyrics "Ohh, we can do anything we want,Live it up,So live it up".
"Green Light" Pitbull (with Flo Rida and Lunchmoney Lewis) These are my favorite lyrucs "that we could do anything, anything that you dream".
Queen "We are the champions" These are my favorite lyrics "We are the champions, my friends"
Pussycat Dolls "Stickwitu"-" I don't want to go another day
So I'm telling you, exactly what is on my mind, Seems as like everybody is breaking up And throwing their love away, But I know I got a good thing right here,That's why I say (hey),Nobody gonna love me better, I'm gon' stick wit you forever, Nobody gonna take me higher, I'm gon' stick wit you" This song is such a classic throwback and these are my favorite lyrics. I picked this song because in my opinion it has to do with moving on in life and also Graduation,graduation is the time to let people know how you feel before it's too late. For me when I remember graduating high school there is so much I didn't say to people I really cared about and I feel like this song reminds us to say how we feel before it's too late. Saying how you feel doesn't just have to be romantic it could be telling your close friends how much they really mean to you or telling someone how much you appreciate them.
"Unwritten" Natasha Bedingfield I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined, I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned, Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find". I love these lyrics because of the positive vibe and how well they describe graduation and the whole experience.
Vitamin C "Graduation (Friends Forever) This is the ultimate graduation and it makes me so emotional. Post graduation your life forever changes and this song really captures that. "I keep thinking times will never change, Keep on thinking things will always be the same,But when we leave this year we won't be coming back,As we go on. We remember, All the times we Had together, And as our lives change Come whatever,We will still be,Friends Forever".
Katy Perry "Chained to the Rhythm" These lyrics are absolutely magical and perfect. "Turn it up, it's your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion, Turn it up (turn it up, turn it up), keep it on repeat".
Lenno & the Bee's Knees featuring Monogem "Better With You" "I've been waiting in the shadows, Looking in on my life, I can't believe how fast the time goes" These lyrics are so true life goes by so fast especially college.
Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth "See You Again" the lyrics are just perfect. Here are some of the lyrics "We've come a long way from where we began, Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again,When I see you again"
Jordin Sparks "One Step At a Time" These are some of my favorite lyrics from the song "Hurry up and wait,So close, but so far away, Everything that you've always dreamed of, Close enough for you to taste,But you just can't touch,We live and we learn to take,One step at a time"
Idina Menzel "Defying gravity" This song is so inspirational and the lyrics are so amazing! "Something has changed within me, Something is not the same, I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game,Too late for second-guessing,Too late to go back to sleep, It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap!It's time to try Defying gravity"
Maroon 5 "Daylight" The lyrics make me so emotional and honestly perfectly tell the graduation story and the way graduates feel. These lyrics are my favorite from the song "Here I am waiting, I'll have to leave soon, Why am I holding on?We knew this day would come, We knew it all along, How did it come so fast?This is our last night but it's late, And I'm trying not to sleep, Cause I know, when I wake, I will have to slip away, And when the daylight comes I'll have to go"
Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera "Feel This Moment" I love this song because I feel like graduates never soak in the moment enough. They never are able to process those emotions in those moments because were so overwhelmed in all the craziness of graduation and the ceremony. But this reminds us to literally "Feel this moment". It's important to appreciate a moment before it's gone and unfortunately will never come back.
