Tag: miscellany (Page 6 of 8)

Now that the hustle of the graduation season is dying down, I’m trying to write up a few notes that might save the rest of you some time planning around such momentous times in your family. One note is on different songs I’ve chosen in the past to help celebrate my kids’ academic accomplishments. Here is my list of favorite graduation songs, but unlike a lot of the other lists out there, I’m going 80s and 90s old school with this one:

School’s Out – Alice Cooper

I remember singing this song with my friends on the bus as it carted me home on many last days of school. Given all the security tensions around schools these days, though, you may be better off skipping this one or relegating it to background music.

Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper

A big song from my youth, although I much preferred her Goonies song over this one.

Forever – Kenny Loggins

Sure, Forever seems to be primarily a love song, but with lines like, “even when I’m gone, you’ll be here with me,” you can’t help noting that, after years of forging friendships, your graduate will be leaving those friends for new experiences and likely only taking fond memories with him.

Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds

It’s interesting how my kids have picked up on certain notables of my youth including the movie The Breakfast Club. The movie and soundtrack were big back in the day and this song has certainly held up well.

The Future’s So Bright, I Got to Wear Shades – Timbuk 3

I suspect this song’s a subtly cynical observation on the future of humanity, but on it’s surface, it’s a fun song about reaping the benefits of your hard work.

Friends – Michael W. Smith

Holding with the theme that even though your new phase in life might have you moving far away from your friends, you’ll always take your friends with you in your heart. A big hit in Christian youth groups everywhere back in the day.

The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

Part of the soundtrack of the smash movie Dirty Dancing, The Time of My Life, like a true graduation song, stops to appreciate that these last few moments–days, months, years?–have been fantastic experiences for the singer and it’s all because of the person(s) that he surrounded himself with.

I Will Remember You – Amy Grant

I find the opening verse of this song particularly touching:

I will be walking one day
Down a street far away
And see a face in the crowd and smile
Knowing how you made me laugh
Hearing sweet echoes of you from the past
I will remember you.

These Are The Days – 10,000 Maniacs

Underneath, this song seems to celebrate the process of youth maturing in their sexuality. On the surface, it’s just a fun song asking its listeners to appreciate the present moment.

I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan

Two years after Amy Grant’s I Will Remember You, Sarah McLachlan came out with another song of the same title hitting on that same theme of friends who find their lives diverging from one another.

Good Riddance – Green Day

Taking a substantial departure from their punk inclinations, Green Day came out with this acoustic ballad in 1997 to help graduates–and likely all others embarking on major life changes–take stock and appreciate the good events in their pasts as they head out on new and separate paths.

Graduation – Vitamin C

This is probably the quintessential graduation song and should definitely be in your playlist for such events. It even borrows from Pachelbel’s Canon, a piece commonly played at graduations today.