Earbuds on a graduation cap The Xavierite
With this year’s commencement ceremonies just around the corner, there’s too much to say to my fellow seniors to put into words.
Luckily, when words fail, music doesn’t. Here are five songs to play to bring in this new, unfamiliar era of being college graduates.
- “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
As Stevie Nicks once said, “I’ve been afraid of changing.”
This classic track speaks to the collective fear graduating seniors may have for the future, all the while knowing we can’t stay here forever.
- “The View Between Villages” by Noah Kahan
Whether the classic or extended version, this song perfectly encapsulates the feeling that many graduates will have on May 5. There are different destinations for us all, and we may not have a clear view of which village is next.
Let yourself feel all the emotions you have, good or bad. It’s okay to be overwhelmed; it’ll pass.
- “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift
This smash hit from Swift’s 10th studio album is a slow-building ballad dedicated to learning how to rely on yourself.
Independence is a blessing, not a curse. Your strongest support system can sometimes be yourself.
- “Vienna” by Billy Joel
Every word of this song is a soul read for people who don’t have committed plans after graduation. It’s terrifying not knowing what will come next, but Billy Joel reminds us “It’s alright, you can afford to lose a day or two.”
- “Ribs” by Lorde
A bittersweet anthem for the ages, “Ribs” epitomizes the strange unease that hits when you realize how much time has passed. How much has changed without you realizing it? How much has stayed the same, for better or worse?
Lorde was right: “It feels so scary getting old.”
But regardless of how scary it is, we will get through it.
There are a million songs that can speak to us, to comfort us and our anxieties about the future or make us more nostalgic about the past.
Whatever mindset you’re approaching graduation with, music can speak to you. Let it.
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