Every Single Graduation Song From 1990-2016
The complete list.
BuzzFeed Staff
BuzzFeed Staff
1990: "The Dance" by Garth Brooks
Runner-up: "Story of My Life" by Social Distortion
1991: “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Runner-up: "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M.
1992: "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men
Runners-up: "I'll be There" by Mariah Carey, "This Used to Be My Playground" by Madonna, and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" by Boyz II Men
1993: "What About Your Friends" by TLC
Runners-up: "Ordinary World" by Duran Duran and "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs
1994: "Hero" by Mariah Carey
Runners-up: "I'll Remember" by Madonna and "I Swear" by All-4-One
1995: "I'll Be There for You" by The Rembrandts
Runner-ups: "I'll Stand By You" The Pretenders and "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan
1996: "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly
Runners-up: "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root and "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis
1997: "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve
Runners-up: "Tonight, Tonight" by the Smashing Pumpkins, "Graduate" by Third Eye Blind, and "The Power of Good-Bye" by Madonna
1998: "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day
Runners-up: "Save Tonight" by Eagle-Eye Cherry, "Closing Time" by Semisonic, "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain, and "When I Grow Up" by Garbage
1999: "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Luhrmann
Runners-up: "I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith, "You Get What You Give" by the New Radicals, "I Will Remember You (Live)" by Sarah McLachlan, and “Going Away to College” by Blink-182.
2000: "Graduation (Friends Forever)" by Vitamin C
Runner-up: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
2001: "Here's to the Night" by Eve 6
Runner-up: "Get the Party Started" by Pink
2002: "No Such Thing" by John Mayer
Runners-up: "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World and "Where Are You Going" by Dave Matthews Band
2003: "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" by Jason Mraz
Runner-up: "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban
2004: "100 Years" by Five for Fighting
Runner-up: "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane
2005: "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson
Runner-up: "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani
2006: "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield
Runner-up: "Photograph" by Nickelback (yes, we know, but it was the 2000s!)
2007: "Good Morning" by Kanye West
Runners-up: "Thnks fr th Mmrs" by Fall Out Boy
2008: "Live Your Life" by T.I. and Rihanna
Runner-up: "When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls
2010: "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas
Runners-up: "Congratulations" by MGMT and "Memories" by Weezer
2011: "Firework" by Katy Perry
Runners-up: "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine and "Good Life" by One Republic
2012: "We Are Young" by fun. feat. Janelle Monáe
Runner-up: "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO
2013: "I Was Here" by Beyoncé
Runners up: "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons and "Started From the Bottom" by Drake
2015: "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
Runner-up: "Time of Our Lives" by Pitbull and Ne-Yo
2016: "7 Years" by Lukas Graham
Runners-up: ???