grad music for the discerning teenage ear
May 11, 2011 2:16 PM Subscribe
Help me find cool songs for a high school graduation picture slide show.
There are sites that have lists, but they tend to be pretty cheesy. What are some graduation songs for a kid who appreciates good music - fair game would include anything like:
60's & 70's (zombies, beach boys, kinks)
80's (smiths, rem, clash)
90's (low, counting crows, radiohead)
and beyond (iron & wine, sufjan stevens, flaming lips, andrew bird)
That's just a sample so you can a basic idea of what kind of music she likes. The music will be played over a looping slide show of pictures of the graduate. All lyrics must be rated G or PG (at worst) since this party will include grandparents and young children.
Anything come to mind from these or similar artists?
There are sites that have lists, but they tend to be pretty cheesy. What are some graduation songs for a kid who appreciates good music - fair game would include anything like:
60's & 70's (zombies, beach boys, kinks)
80's (smiths, rem, clash)
90's (low, counting crows, radiohead)
and beyond (iron & wine, sufjan stevens, flaming lips, andrew bird)
That's just a sample so you can a basic idea of what kind of music she likes. The music will be played over a looping slide show of pictures of the graduate. All lyrics must be rated G or PG (at worst) since this party will include grandparents and young children.
Anything come to mind from these or similar artists?
Cliche... but, Green Day "Time of Your Life"
This is actually the only permissable choice. It's a law, look it up.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:43 PM on May 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
This is actually the only permissable choice. It's a law, look it up.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:43 PM on May 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Do You Realize" by the Flaming Lips is another legal choice.
posted by verbyournouns at 2:45 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by verbyournouns at 2:45 PM on May 11, 2011
Response by poster: Duh... how did I not think of Time Of Your Life. And I love the Lips suggestion. That's perfect. I should mention that I'd like to get about 50 minutes of music. The pictures will be on about a 10 minute loop, but I'd like five picture rotations for every time the music starts over (less annoying that way).
So, the more the better.
posted by crapples at 2:50 PM on May 11, 2011
So, the more the better.
posted by crapples at 2:50 PM on May 11, 2011
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds is another classic-verging-on-cliché.
posted by jedicus at 3:01 PM on May 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jedicus at 3:01 PM on May 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Carpenters--We've Only Just Begun.
Queen--Eye of the Tiger (which is mandatory for all sports shots.)
And look! A whole big list!
posted by Ideefixe at 3:02 PM on May 11, 2011
Queen--Eye of the Tiger (which is mandatory for all sports shots.)
And look! A whole big list!
posted by Ideefixe at 3:02 PM on May 11, 2011
Closing Time by Semisonic might work.
posted by blaneyphoto at 3:09 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by blaneyphoto at 3:09 PM on May 11, 2011
Queen--Eye of the Tiger (which is mandatory for all sports shots.)
Uh.... Eye of the Tiger is by Survivor, NOT Queen. You are thinking of We Are the Champions, We Will Rock You, and/or Another One Bites the Dust.
2nding "Don't You Forget About Me."
posted by Sys Rq at 3:29 PM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Uh.... Eye of the Tiger is by Survivor, NOT Queen. You are thinking of We Are the Champions, We Will Rock You, and/or Another One Bites the Dust.
2nding "Don't You Forget About Me."
posted by Sys Rq at 3:29 PM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another "classic" : Vitamin C - Graduation (Friends Forever)
posted by DeltaZ113 at 3:51 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by DeltaZ113 at 3:51 PM on May 11, 2011
Cliche... but, Green Day "Time of Your Life" This is actually the only permissable choice. It's a law, look it up.
I agree. You do not want to be thrown in graduation jail for missing this one. It's a horrific place where you're forever condemned to have your last name mispronounced and trip and fall flat on your face right as you're about to get your diploma.
For whatever reason, "Time of Your Life" is often paired with Seasons of Love from Rent for the ultimate in sappy sentimentality.
Also, a google search for graduation songs turns up a bazillion lists you can use to help round out your playlist.
posted by zachlipton at 4:05 PM on May 11, 2011
I agree. You do not want to be thrown in graduation jail for missing this one. It's a horrific place where you're forever condemned to have your last name mispronounced and trip and fall flat on your face right as you're about to get your diploma.
For whatever reason, "Time of Your Life" is often paired with Seasons of Love from Rent for the ultimate in sappy sentimentality.
Also, a google search for graduation songs turns up a bazillion lists you can use to help round out your playlist.
posted by zachlipton at 4:05 PM on May 11, 2011
"It's the End of the World As We Know it (And I Feel Fine)" was played at my high school graduation. Possibly to rub in the fact that there was an REM concert that night that none of us could attend due to graduation.
posted by something something at 4:17 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by something something at 4:17 PM on May 11, 2011
Sly and the Family Stone, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf)" for the goofy out-take pics.
Because there is a distinct lack of funk to all of the suggestions so far, and it is important to bring the funk at such a time.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:17 PM on May 11, 2011
Because there is a distinct lack of funk to all of the suggestions so far, and it is important to bring the funk at such a time.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:17 PM on May 11, 2011
The Beatles - "In My Life"
posted by John Cohen at 4:25 PM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by John Cohen at 4:25 PM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sappy, but great for the purpose: Barbra Streisand - "The Way We Were"
posted by Sys Rq at 5:33 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by Sys Rq at 5:33 PM on May 11, 2011
Kodachrome
posted by southeastyetagain at 6:45 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by southeastyetagain at 6:45 PM on May 11, 2011
A couple oldies that worked well from the high school graduation picture slideshow my group of friends made:
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam
posted by sigmagalator at 8:47 PM on May 11, 2011
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam
posted by sigmagalator at 8:47 PM on May 11, 2011
This probably isn't quite appropriate but 'Celebrated Summer' by Husker Du nails those first moment after graduating high school better than anything else I have ever heard. Melancholia and nostalgia for one's youth delivered on beautiful, soaring waves of feedbacked pop punk magic.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 10:15 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 10:15 PM on May 11, 2011
I think The Kinks - This Time Tomorrow and The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year might be good.
Agreed that the Green Day song is very much a standard, but even by the time of my own high school graduation (9 years ago) I thought it was corny overused crap that might have been an ok song once but had swiftly been ruined forever by its frequent usage in this sentimental sort of thing. Also, as I liked to point out to my sappy classmates who were still listening to the song every 5 minutes, the title is technically "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" - just sayin'. T.D. Strange and zachlipton are right that the graduation police might lock you up if you don't include it, though.
posted by naoko at 6:30 AM on May 12, 2011
Agreed that the Green Day song is very much a standard, but even by the time of my own high school graduation (9 years ago) I thought it was corny overused crap that might have been an ok song once but had swiftly been ruined forever by its frequent usage in this sentimental sort of thing. Also, as I liked to point out to my sappy classmates who were still listening to the song every 5 minutes, the title is technically "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" - just sayin'. T.D. Strange and zachlipton are right that the graduation police might lock you up if you don't include it, though.
posted by naoko at 6:30 AM on May 12, 2011
I just found this thread, and my son is graduating from high school.
I'm thinking of putting some not-so-standard but appropriate (in my opinion) songs on a mix CD:
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
No Such Thing (John Mayer)
I'll Be There for You (the Rembrandts)
Closing Time (Semisonic)
posted by misha at 9:40 AM on May 18, 2011
I'm thinking of putting some not-so-standard but appropriate (in my opinion) songs on a mix CD:
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
No Such Thing (John Mayer)
I'll Be There for You (the Rembrandts)
Closing Time (Semisonic)
posted by misha at 9:40 AM on May 18, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by AlliKat75 at 2:38 PM on May 11, 2011