Think back to the moment you tossed that cap in the air. The diploma in hand, the future wide open, friends screaming with joy. Every graduation year has a soundtrack, that one song dominating the radio, parties, and every speaker system within earshot.
The music that topped the charts when you walked across that stage carries a certain weight. It becomes part of your memory, woven into that significant life transition.
2023: Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” Dominates Everything
Morgan Wallen ruled Billboard’s 2023 year-end Hot 100 Artists chart, while his smash crossover single “Last Night” led the year’s Hot 100 Songs recap, making him the first artist that primarily records country music to top Hot 100 Artists since 1981. The country star completely owned the charts in ways few artists ever achieve.
The song spent 16 non-consecutive weeks at the top, the second most for a non-collaboration and tied for the third most of all time. In July 2023, “Last Night” became the first song to accrue one billion on-demand streams in the United States in a single year. For the class of 2023, this was absolutely the anthem playing at every graduation party, whether you loved country music or not.
2022: Glass Animals Breaks Records With “Heat Waves”
Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” was at the number-one position, which spent 5 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 and accumulated a total of 91 weeks on the chart, which is the longest-charting song in the 64-year history of the Billboard Hot 100. The British band’s dreamy indie track took an unconventional path to success.
Originally released in 2020, “Heat Waves” made history for the longest ever climb to the top spot, as it was on the chart for 58 weeks before finally reaching number-one on its 59th. If you graduated in 2022, this slow-burning masterpiece probably soundtracked your entire senior year. The song’s hazy, nostalgic vibe perfectly captured that bittersweet feeling of endings and new beginnings.
2021: Levitating Above the Competition
The best-performing single on the Billboard Hot 100 of 2021 was Dua Lipa’s “Levitating”, which peaked at number two. Despite never hitting the top spot, the disco-infused pop anthem proved unstoppable throughout the year. The song became ubiquitous at parties, on radio, and across social media.
Billboard named Olivia Rodrigo the top Hot 100 artist of 2021, the youngest female artist to achieve this honor, and the first female artist since Katy Perry in 2014, as Rodrigo placed four songs on the list with “Good 4 U” placed at number five. The class of 2021 experienced a unique musical moment, graduating into a world still recovering from pandemic disruptions while these upbeat tracks offered escape and celebration.
2020: The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” Illuminates Charts
Billboard’s top Hot 100 artist of 2020 was The Weeknd, whose “Blinding Lights” was the number-one Hot 100 song of the year. The synth-heavy track became one of the decade’s defining songs. Its 80s-inspired production and infectious melody made it impossible to escape.
The song led the Hot 100 for four weeks in 2020, among 90 weeks on the chart overall, the longest stay on the ranking of all-time for a soloist. Let’s be real, graduating in 2020 came with unprecedented challenges, yet this song somehow provided a sonic escape during one of the strangest years in modern history. The track’s staying power proved remarkable, continuing to chart well into 2021.
2019: Lil Nas X Rides “Old Town Road” to History
“Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus dominated the chart for 19 weeks in 2019, breaking the record previously held by “Despacito” and “One Sweet Day.” The genre-blending viral sensation started on TikTok before conquering every chart imaginable. Its unprecedented run at number one seemed like it would never end.
The song sparked endless debates about genre boundaries and what defines country music. For graduates of 2019, this was the soundtrack to yee-hawing through senior year. The track’s meme-worthy status only amplified its cultural impact, making it more than just a song but a genuine phenomenon that transcended traditional music industry expectations.
2018: Drake’s Year of Dominance With “God’s Plan”
The top Hot 100 artist of 2018 was Drake, who placed eight songs on the list, including the number-one song of the year, “God’s Plan”. Drake dominated the Hot 100 for a single-year-record 29 weeks in 2018, with three smashes from his album Scorpion, one-upping the 28 weeks that Usher spent at No. 1 in 2004.
The Canadian rapper essentially owned the entire year’s chart. His emotional video for “God’s Plan,” where he gave away nearly a million dollars, became viral gold. Graduating in 2018 meant Drake was absolutely inescapable, whether at prom, graduation parties, or blasting from every car radio.
2017: Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” Takes All Forms
“Shape of You” was the top title on the 2017 Hot 100 Songs chart, as Sheeran’s album ÷ (Divide) debuted atop the Billboard 200 in March 2017 and gave him two Hot 100 No. 1s. The British singer-songwriter’s tropical-tinged pop track became 2017’s inescapable earworm. Its marimba-driven beat and catchy hook made it perfect for everything from workout playlists to slow dances.
Sheeran’s stripped-down approach to pop music dominated a year full of production-heavy tracks. If you walked across that graduation stage in 2017, you probably heard this song at least three times that day alone. The song’s massive global success proved that sometimes simple songwriting and an infectious melody beat flashy production every time.
