This is the time for many parents when your heart is torn in half as you rejoice at the prospect of your home becoming your home again, yet cry as you watch your child walk across the stage to receive the diploma that says they belong to the world now. It is the first major celebration in their adult lives. Many of my friends are throwing graduation parties and planning playlists. We want songs that will keep the party going, while remembering times gone by and looking forward to times yet to come.
As my friends have asked for suggestions, I have tried to make recommendations based on the person who is asking. However, it occurred to me that perhaps a graduation is a perfect time to mix it up. Here is my graduation playlist with happy songs, feel good message songs, songs we remember, and songs our kids will know.
Happy Songs
1. Bruno Mars – Count on Me
2. Pharrell Williams – Happy
3. Avicii – Wake Me Up
4. Rusted Root – Send Me On My Way
5. Andy Grammer – Keep Your Head Up
Feel Good Message
1. Natasha Bedington – Unwritten
2. Sara Bareilles – Brave
3. Sarah McLachlan – I Will Remember You
4. Rascal Flats – My Wish
5. Kenny Chesney – Don’t Blink
6. Trace Adkins – You’re Gonna Miss This
7. Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying
Songs We Remember
1. Billy Joel – Vienna (also a feel good message)
2. Bob Dylan – Forever Young (also a feel good message)
3. Rascal Flats – Life is a Highway (our kids knows it, but we remember their excitement over Cars)
4. Queen – We Are Champions
5. 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
6. Green Day – Good Riddance
7. Phil Collins – On My Way (again they know it, but we remember Brother Bear)
8. Lynyard Skynyrd – Freebird (for the 1989 graduating class of Ledford High School)
Songs Our Kids Know
1. My Chemical Romance – Sing
2. Florence & the Machine – Shake It Out
3. American Authors – Best Day of My Life
4. Imagine Dragons – It’s Time
5. Flo Rida – Good Feeling
6. Nickelback – Photograph
7. Jason Aldean – Dirt Road Anthem
One That Nobody Knows (but is appropriate to the occasion)
1. Vitamin C – Graduation Day (Friends Forever) – (give it a minute, starts slow but becomes a rap)
One That We All Know & Has Defined This Year
1. Idina Menzel – Let It Go
As my friends have asked for suggestions, I have tried to make recommendations based on the person who is asking. However, it occurred to me that perhaps a graduation is a perfect time to mix it up. Here is my graduation playlist with happy songs, feel good message songs, songs we remember, and songs our kids will know.
Happy Songs
1. Bruno Mars – Count on Me
2. Pharrell Williams – Happy
3. Avicii – Wake Me Up
4. Rusted Root – Send Me On My Way
5. Andy Grammer – Keep Your Head Up
Feel Good Message
1. Natasha Bedington – Unwritten
2. Sara Bareilles – Brave
3. Sarah McLachlan – I Will Remember You
4. Rascal Flats – My Wish
5. Kenny Chesney – Don’t Blink
6. Trace Adkins – You’re Gonna Miss This
7. Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying
Songs We Remember
1. Billy Joel – Vienna (also a feel good message)
2. Bob Dylan – Forever Young (also a feel good message)
3. Rascal Flats – Life is a Highway (our kids knows it, but we remember their excitement over Cars)
4. Queen – We Are Champions
5. 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
6. Green Day – Good Riddance
7. Phil Collins – On My Way (again they know it, but we remember Brother Bear)
8. Lynyard Skynyrd – Freebird (for the 1989 graduating class of Ledford High School)
Songs Our Kids Know
1. My Chemical Romance – Sing
2. Florence & the Machine – Shake It Out
3. American Authors – Best Day of My Life
4. Imagine Dragons – It’s Time
5. Flo Rida – Good Feeling
6. Nickelback – Photograph
7. Jason Aldean – Dirt Road Anthem
One That Nobody Knows (but is appropriate to the occasion)
1. Vitamin C – Graduation Day (Friends Forever) – (give it a minute, starts slow but becomes a rap)
One That We All Know & Has Defined This Year
1. Idina Menzel – Let It Go