At the last pep rally, “Good Riddance” by Green Day was announced as my class’s senior song. I’m pretty disappointed, and I don’t think the voters realized they picked a sarcastic break up song. If I had my way, these five songs would have made up the ballot.
The Killers – Smile Like You Mean It
A song about memories, “Smile Like You Mean It” is catchy, mellow and reminds me of what is good. The mantra of the song, and its namesake, fit graduation perfectly. Even if you aren’t happy to leave high school, you are supposed to smile at the ceremony and enjoy the moment.
Elton John and Tim Rice – Circle of Life
Yes, it’s The Lion King song. And I love The Lion King. It’s also a song about the immeasurable hugeness of the world and everything going on around and inside it. Our graduation is just one of many, another part of the circle of life.
Semisonic – Closing Time
Of my five top choices, this was the song I liked the most and the one I nominated. It was written by the singer when he was expecting his first child, and the lyrics are meant to reflect the occasion. Interpreted literally, the two lines about alcohol may be taken the wrong way, but they’re just as high school friendly as the metaphors in our English reading assignments.
I was shocked when I found out the song was rejected from nomination because of these couple of lyrics. We seem to have no problem with songs about getting high and drunk—while driving, even—playing at the pep rally, and, in comparison, “Closing Time” is harmless.
Muse – Starlight
Honestly, this is one of my least favorite Muse songs. But it’s still good and meaningful enough for me to consider it eligible for the senior song. It talks about hopes, memories, expectations and moving on, which fits the ticket pretty perfectly.
The New Pornographers – The Laws Have Changed
I’d least expect this song to win, and, of this list, it’s probably the one I’d least want to. The lyrics relate to graduation ceremonies, the unknown which comes afterwards, and the ever-evolving situations we find ourselves in.
Ronnie Castillo • Jan 7, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I agree with your choice for “Closing Time”. It fits the bill perfectly for graduation, and it expresses the feelings perfectly (:
jackie ginger • Dec 13, 2010 at 8:26 am
personaly i agree with the choice for “good riddance”. understand, to me, the song brings back so many memories and i would love if that song could be my senior song. the song represents change and moving forward in ones life, such as graduation is. the song tells a person that yes that time of your life is over, and i hope you had fun, and now its time to go on and have more fun with the next era in your life. i like your choices for the senior song, but i disagree with what your view on the actual choice for the song this year.
Kahlan Jenkins • Dec 1, 2010 at 7:43 am
In some lines of the song “Good Riddance,” it is understandable why it was chosen as a high school class song. The overall meaning of the song, however, is not appropriate for this occasion. A different song could have represented the class graduation much better.
Sean Lusk • Nov 30, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Yeah, I think most people pick songs just because they like it or they think it would be funny for it to be a senior class’ song, especially if its about drinking and smoking. But It’s not a matter of it being a good song or not it’s mostly about which one is liked the most, “Good Riddance” was the one.
Amber Krist • Nov 30, 2010 at 11:43 am
I completely agree that ‘Good Riddance’ was an ignorant choice for the graduation song.
It pushes the fact that the students are leaving, but it doesn’t quite show anything about the fact that they’ve just finished their four years of high school, and they have their lives ahead of them.
A different song should’ve been chosen, that’s for sure.