Baby Boomers' Top 10 Graduation Songs

When choosing music for a high school or college graduation ceremony, organizers may be faced with a dilemma: What songs can we pick that will express the spirit of graduation, yet will be familiar enough to older people in the audience?

Luckily, there is a perfect solution: Simply choose songs of the 1970s and 1980s. Young people are pretty familiar with music of past decades, and for the most part, like those songs as much if not more than contemporary music.

And, of course, if you choose songs by Fleetwood Mac, Queen or the Steve Miller Band, parents will be rocking out as well.

So, in no particular order, here are my choices for the best graduation songs of the baby boomer era:

- "We Are the Champions," Queen. It's a natural, if perhaps a bit overused. And everyone knows the words.

- "Don't You Forget About Me," Simple Minds. Featured in the classic 1980s film "The Breakfast Club," it's about holding onto friendship, a natural theme for this time when so many friends must go in different directions.

- "School's Out," Alice Cooper. Great if you want something a little more raucous. The lyrics say it all for the graduates - "School's out completely!"

- "The Wind Beneath My Wings," Bette Midler. For those desiring a more reflective, slower mood, you can't beat this song for its message of thanking those who have helped us achieve our goals.

- "Forever Young," Rod Stewart. Great song about new beginnings and good wishes for young people striking out on their own.

- "Fly Like An Eagle," Steve Miller Band. Flying high and following your spirit is a great theme for any graduation. There are also lyrics about finding solutions to world problems, inspiration our future leaders.

- "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow," Fleetwood Mac. My personal favorite, it was played at my high school graduation in 1977 at the conclusion of the ceremony. A perfect upbeat song with which to greet the new graduates.

- "True Colors," Cyndi Lauper. Another song to put everyone in a more reflective state of mind, it's about revealing the beauty and bravery within ourselves. A lovely song.