Top 10 New Hit Songs Perfect for Your Graduation Playlist
Graduation Playlist
It's graduation season once again. So, let me list down 10 amazing new songs that are perfect for everyone's graduation playlist. These songs will help you celebrate this amazing milestone and also give you a hint of what is waiting out in the real world. Always stay inspired and don't stop reaching for your dreams.
1. "Youth" by Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid
You can't take my youth away
This soul of mine will never break
As long as I wake up today
You can't take my youth away
— Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid (Youth)Youth
Artist: Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid
Release: 2018
Album: Shawn Mendes
Genre: Pop
From the third and newest album of Shawn Mendes, comes a beautiful upbeat song about youth, hence the title. Shawn was joined by Khalid and complimented each others voices, making the track much more pleasing and enjoyable. "I love this idea of youth, not our age, not as being young, but that thing inside of us that makes us feel that the world is amazing," Shawn said about "Youth" in a secret listening session with some of his fans. It is his way of saying that we should not let society take that child part of us that will always dare to dream. This is not just a perfect bop to add to our inspirational and youthful graduation playlist but even to the playlist of our whole life.
2. "Clearly" by Grace VanderWaal
I can see clearly now
The rain has gone
I accept all the things
that I cannot change
Gone are the dark clouds
The dawn has come
It's gonna be a bright,
bright sunshiny day
— Grace VanderWaal (Clearly)Clearly
Artist: Grace VanderWaal
Release: 2018
Album: Perfectly Imperfect
Genre: Pop
After her recent win in America's Got Talent, Grace continued to bless us with her beautiful music. She is known for writing and delivering such emotional and inspirational songs even from her young age. This song in particular will again deem Grace as an amazing role model to the youth. This is about getting through tough and dark times and coming out with the lessons and realization that after all the hardships, there's going to be a great life ahead.
3. "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman Movie
I close my eyes and I can see
The world that's waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one's been before
But it feels like home
— Hugh Jackman, Ziv Zaifman, Michelle Williams - The Greatest Showman Soundtrack (A Million Dreams)A Million Dreams
Artist: Hugh Jackman, Ziv Zaifman, Michelle Williams
Release: 2017
Album: The Greatest Showman Soundtrack
The movie "The Greatest Showman" is not just known for its great cast and story but also for the amazing soundtrack written by famous songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The songs, just like the story, are absolutely inspirational. The song "A Million Dreams" tells us to believe in ourselves and pushes us to live our dreams and aspirations because nothing is impossible as long as we keep believing.
4. "Congratulations" by Post Malone ft. Quavo
I dreamed it all ever since I was young
They said I wouldn't be nothing
Now they always say congratulations
Worked so hard, forgot how to vacation
They ain't never had the dedication
People hatin', say we changed
and look we made it, Yeah, we made it
— Post Malone ft. Quavo (Congratulations)Congratulations
Artist: Post Malone ft. Quavo
Released: 2016
Album: Stoney
Genre: Hip-hop/rap
Some people might think that hip-hop or rap music doesn't usually have positive messages due to the usual use of curse and explicit words. But these artists also have positive stories to tell that we can also be inspired about. This song by Post Malone is one of those songs that will make us celebrate our achievements and hard-work. The beat and lyrics together with Quavo and Post Malones' rapping skills deliver such a beautiful song that all of us youth can relate to.
5. "Pray" by Sam Smith ft. Logic
I'm down on my knees,
I'm beggin' you, please
I'm broken, alone, and afraid
I'm not a saint, I'm more of a sinner
I don't wanna lose, but I fear for the winners
When I try to explain, the words run away
That's why I am stood here today
— Sam Smith ft. Logic (Pray)Pray
Artist: Sam Smith ft. Logic
Released: 2017
Album: The Thrill of It All
Genre: Pop
"I hope it becomes your friend in those deep dark nights of confusion and loneliness," Sam Smith tweeted about his song "Pray" after it was released. It is a gospel-inspired song composed of Sam's amazing vocal ability mixed with Logic's inspiring rap lyrics. It is about someone who hasn't been a perfect person and is never a believer but realizes that "everyone prays in the end". The composition was richly inspired by Sam's stay in Iraq where he realized how little he knew about the world and other people's lives. This can help graduates to have a glimpse of the real world and prepare them to have their mind and heart intact whatever life may bring.
6. "Don't Ever Let Your Children Grow Up" by Maddie Poppe
Oh why'd it have to be
Our imaginations have run dry
We hate ourselves and have a nightly cry
And then we act like we're fine
It's alcohol and bombs and drugs,
don't ever let your children grow up
— Maddie Poppe (Don't Ever Let Your Children Grow Up)Don't Ever Let your Children Grow Up
Artist: Maddie Poppe
Released: 2016
Album: Songs from the Basement
Genre: Alternative/Indie
Maddie Poppe is the newest winner of American Idol, but before she even graced the AI stage, she has already written amazing songs. One of her amazing originals is "Don't Ever Let Your Children Grow Up", a song that she also performed in the show. It is about not letting the beauty of kids' innocence and how it can be tarnished by the world once they grow up. It has such a beautiful melody that would bring us back to our childhood, making us be grateful of simple things.
7. "7 Years" by Lukas Graham
I only see my goals, I don't believe in failure
'Cause I know the smallest voices,
they can make it major
I got my boys with me at least those in favor
And if we don't meet before I leave,
I hope I'll see you later
— Lukas Graham (7 Years)7 Years
Artist: Lukas Graham
Released: 2015
Album: Lukas Graham (Blue Album)
Genre: Pop
This hit song by Lukas Graham is one beautiful song about his journey of growing up, making friends, loosing friends, finding life, reaching dreams and building a family. This amazing piece can teach graduates what is really important about life, growing up and growing old. A lot can also relate to this song, may it be a kid, an adult or an elder.
8. "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
— Rachel Platten (Fight Song)Fight Song
Artist: Rachel Platten
Released: 2014
Album: Fight Song
Genre: Pop
One of today's perfect graduation songs is Rachel Platten's "Fight Song". This song can absolutely inspire graduates to never stop fighting and believing even if the world can be so hard and cruel sometimes.
9. "Rise Up" by Andra Day
When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
We'll take it to its feet
And move mountains
— Andra Day (Rise Up)Rise Up
Artist: Andra Day
Released: 2015
Album: Cheers to the Fall
Genre: R&B/soul
Being one of the most beautiful songs ever written, this song would never fail to give us strength, make us believe in ourselves and keep trying whatever happens.
10. "Brave" by Sara Bareilles
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
— Sara Bareilles (Brave)Brave
Artist: Sara Bareilles
Released: 2013
Album: The Blessed Unrest
Genre: Pop
In life, sometimes, we would feel like our voice does not matter, so we would just keep quiet and fit in. This song would remind us that we matter and we all need to be ourselves wherever we are. Let this great and inspirational track give us the strength to be brave.
Which's Your Fave?
Which of the songs in the list do you think is the best graduation song?
Questions & Answers
© 2018 Jenny Pasahol
Do you have your own graduation playlist? Tell us in the comments below!
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