When life tries to break me down, only music can make me feel alright. Let me share music's greatest gift through my top playlists!

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?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 ThatWallflowerJen