Top 10 Graduation Songs for 2013

by Bill Lamb
Bill Lamb is a music and arts writer with two decades of experience covering the world of entertainment and culture.
Updated March 18, 2017
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10. Dixie Chicks - "Wide Open Spaces"

Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces
Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces. Courtesy Monument

One of the best loved hits from country trio the Dixie Chicks is an anthem for heading out on one's own in life. It was the title song from the group's major label debut album. The song "Wide Open Spaces" was a #1 country smash and just missed hitting the pop top 40 as well. Texas-based singer-songwriter Susan Gibson wrote "Wide Open Spaces" no her first visit home after leaving for forestry school at the University of Montana. Lloyd Maines, father of Dixie Chicks member Natalie Maines, brought the song to the group's attention. 

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9. Journey - "Don't Stop Believin'"

Journey Don't Stop Believin'
Journey - "Don't Stop Believin'". Courtesy Columbia

The class of 2013 grew up with the hit TV show Glee. "Don't Stop Believin'" was featured in the show's pilot episode and has become a favorite inspirational pop hit. When first released in 1981 the song was a top 10 pop hit for rock band Journey. It was a followup to their first top 10 "Who's Crying Now." "Don't Stop Believin'" now ranks as the bestselling digital song not released in the digital era. It has sold more than six million digital downloads. The song is used extensively for TV sports coverage.

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8. Owl City - "Good Time" featuring Carly Rae Jepsen

Owl City Good Time
Owl City - "Good Time" featuring Carly Rae Jepsen. Courtesy Universal Republic

"Good Time" is a crowd pleasing choice for graduation parties. The song helped prove that both Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen were not one hit wonders. However, both have failed to come up with a third top 10 hit. "Good Time" landed in the pop top 10 in both the US and the UK as well as many other countries around the world. The song has sold more than two million digital copies in the US. "Good Time" helped Owl City's album The Midsummer Station reach a peak of #7 on the album chart.

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7. Christina Aguilera - "Soar"

Christina Aguilera Stripped
Christina Aguilera - Stripped. Courtesy RCA

"Soar" is an inspirational song from Christina Aguilera's album Stripped. It will appeal to those who have found powerful support in her single "Beautiful." The album reached #2 on the album chart in the US when released in 2002. It earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album. Stripped has sold over four million copies.

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6. Little Mix - "Wings"

Little Mix Wings
Little Mix - "Wings". Courtesy Columbia

Girl group Little Mix became the first group to win  in 2011. The song "Wings" was their second single released at home in the UK and reached #1 on the pop singles chart. It broke into the mainstream pop radio chart here in the US in 2013 and became the group's first single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 and earn a gold certification for sales. The song speaks of maternal advice about spreading one's wings in life to reach for personal success. Members of Little Mix wrote "Wings" with a team of additional songwriters. 

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5. Hadouken! - "Levitate"

Hadouken! Levitate
Hadouken! - "Levitate". Courtesy Surface Noise

"Levitate" is a rousing celebration of all humanity. Hadouken! are a British electronic dance music band formed in 2006. Their name comes from the video game series Street Fighter. This song is their breakthrough pop and dance hit in the US climbing to #69 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is included on the third Hadouken! album Every Weekend.

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4. Beyonce - "I Was Here"

Beyonce I Was Here
Beyonce - "I Was Here". Courtesy Columbia

"I Was Here" appeared on Beyonce's album . It was written by Diane Warren and expresses the desire to be remembered for life accomplishments. The song was included on the Glee graduation album. Beyonce gave a memorable live performance of "I Was Here" at the United Nations General Assembly in August 2012. The performance was filmed for the accompanying music video. "I Was Here" was included on the November 2013 album Songs for the Philippines and all proceeds donated to assist victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

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3. Pitbull - "Feel This Moment" featuring Christina Aguilera

Pitbull Feel This Moment
Pitbull - "Feel This Moment" featuring Christina Aguilera. Courtesy RCA

"Feel This Moment" is a perfect song for expressing the joy of graduation and excitement about heading into the future. Pitbull hit the pop top 10 in the US earlier in 2013 with the song. "Feel This Moment" would work well either in the graduation ceremony or a rousing dance song for parties after. It was Christina Aguilera's second consecutive visit to the top 10 as a featured artist. "Feel This Moment" samples A-ha's 1985 #1 pop classic "Take On Me." The accompanying music video earned an MTV Video Music Awards nomination for Best Collaboration. "Feel This Moment" is included on Pitbull's album Global Warming.

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2. Script - "Hall of Fame" featuring will.i.am

Script Hall of Fame
Script - "Hall of Fame" featuring will.i.am. Courtesy Phonogenic

Irish band the Script struck a melancholy mood on their first several hit songs. However, "Hall Of Fame" is an upbeat, inspirational song. It speaks about following dreams and making a difference in the world. The result was the band's biggest international pop hit. "Hall Of Fame" hit #1 on the UK pop singles chart and hit the top 20 on both the rock songs and adult pop songs in the US. It climbed to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the Script's fourth top 40 hit in the US. The Script first met their collaborator will.i.am when the latter was a judge on the The Voice UK with Script lead vocalist Danny O'Donoghue. "Hall Of Fame" hit the pop top 10 in many different countries around the world.

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1. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - "Can't Hold Us"

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Can't Hold Us
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - "Can't Hold Us". Courtesy Macklemore

Hip hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are one of the top breakout pop acts of 2013. Their second consecutive #1 hit "Can't Hold Us" is a rousing celebration of breaking down limits to what can be accomplished in life. Although the song was released as the third single from the album The Heist, it became a major hit following the duo's pop chart breakthrough with the album's fifth single "Thrift Shop." Macklemore and Ryan Lewis became only the fifth recording act in history to place their first two chart singles at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. They follow Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars. The upbeat nature of "Can't Hold Us" has made it a favorite song to use during sports events. The accompanying music video earned a Grammy Award nomination.