Graduate (song)

{{Short description|1997 single by Third Eye Blind}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = Graduate | cover = ThirdEyeBlind-Graduate.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Third Eye Blind | album = Third Eye Blind | B-side = * "Horror Show" * "Semi-Charmed Life" | released = {{Start date|1997|07|15}} | recorded = | studio = * Toast * Skywalker Ranch * H.O.S. (San Francisco) | genre = | length = {{Duration|m=3|s=08}} | label = Elektra | writer = * Stephan Jenkins * Kevin Cadogan | producer = * Stephan Jenkins * Eric Valentine | chronology = Third Eye Blind | prev_title = Semi-Charmed Life | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = How's It Going to Be | next_year = 1997 | misc = }}

"'''Graduate'''" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio as the second single from the album in July 1997 by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan are credited as co-writers on the song. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. According to Jenkins, the song is about the band's experience after being signed to a major record label.

The song reached number 26 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the U.S., and number 14 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. Additionally, it was featured in the 1998 film ''Can't Hardly Wait'' starring Seth Green and Jennifer Love Hewitt. The band played the song at the 25th Annual American Music Awards, changing some of the lyrics to "can I masturbate" in place of "can I graduate." In 2011, former Third Eye Blind members Cadogan and Arion Salazar performed the song and made an unofficial video.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://backlinetv.com/graduate/|title=Graduate : Backline|date=June 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625125515/http://backlinetv.com/graduate/|archive-date=2015-06-25}}</ref>

==Writing and inspiration== "Graduate" was written by frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan. According to Cadogan, the song originated from a bandmate jokingly saying the phrase "Get ready to roll!!", with Jenkins then crafting the lyrics "can I graduate?" in the same style. In an interview with ''Billboard'', Jenkins said that the concept of the song was developed through the band's experience as they tried to get signed by a major record label.<ref name="oral">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/third-eye-blind-self-titled-debut-album-oral-history-7751391/|title='There Was No Overnight Success': An Oral History of Third Eye Blind's Self-Titled Debut|publisher=Billboard|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref> He further explained the meaning of the song: <blockquote> "Graduate" is about after we got signed, and it's the process of getting signed. I'm still standing in front of some suit at a record company asking permission. I felt like some kind of lap-dancer, some student again, like I was still in high school. Can I get my grade on my paper? What it's really saying is "I'm not really asking if I can graduate. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm beyond your permission. I'm beyond your control.<ref name="oral"/> </blockquote>

==Composition== According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of D major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 141 beats per minute.<ref name="sheet">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0040949|title=Third Eye Blind 'Graduate' Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|last=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|accessdate=November 17, 2020}}</ref> Jenkins's vocal range spans one octave, from A4 to B5.<ref name="sheet"/>

==Chart performance== In the United States, "Graduate" peaked at number 26 on ''Billboard's'' Mainstream Rock chart.

==Live performances== The song was performed at the 25th Annual American Music Awards, with the band substituting the lyric "can I graduate" with "can I masturbate".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-05-27-0905270178-story.html|title=Damn the man|last=Miller|first=Kirk|date=May 27, 2009|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=June 26, 2020|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Third Eye Blind performed the song alongside Billy Idol at the 1998 KROQ Weenie Roast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1430258/billy-idol-helps-third-eye-blind-graduate-at-weenie-roast/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504214409/http://www.mtv.com/news/1430258/billy-idol-helps-third-eye-blind-graduate-at-weenie-roast/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2017|title=Billy Idol Helps Third Eye Blind "Graduate" at Weenie Roast|date=June 23, 1998|work=MTV|accessdate=November 17, 2020}}</ref> In January 2020, the band performed the song as a duet with Yungblud at the Roxy Theatre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/yungblud-performs-graduate-with-third-eye-blind-at-surprise-grammys-week-gig-2601743|title=Yungblud performs 'Graduate' with Third Eye Blind at surprise Grammys week gig|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=January 27, 2020|work=NME|accessdate=November 17, 2020}}</ref> Jenkins has acknowledged that "Graduate" is a staple on their performance set lists, further commenting: "I'm not sick of [playing] it because the audience, they ignite off of it.".<ref name="songfacts">{{cite web|last=Antonelli|first=Laura|title=Songwriter interviews: Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/stephan-jenkins-of-third-eye-blind|website=Songfacts|access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> Despite being released as a B-side, "Horror Show" has been performed live by the band over 50 times as of June 2023.<ref name="setlist.fm">{{cite web|title=Third Eye Blind songs played live|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/third-eye-blind-63d6b6f7.html}}</ref>

==In popular culture== The song was featured in the film and on the soundtrack to the 1998 American teen romantic comedy film ''Can't Hardly Wait''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1428550/missy-elliott-third-eye-blind-smash-mouth-cant-hardly-wait-for-soundtrack/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531071938/http://www.mtv.com/news/1428550/missy-elliott-third-eye-blind-smash-mouth-cant-hardly-wait-for-soundtrack/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 31, 2022|title=Missy Elliott, Third Eye Blind, Smash Mouth "Can't Hardly Wait" for Soundtrack|date=April 9, 1998|work=MTV|accessdate=November 17, 2020}}</ref>

A re-recorded version was included as a playable song in the 2010 rhythm game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McElroy |first1=Griffin |title=Full Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock track list revealed |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-08-17-full-guitar-hero-warriors-of-rock-track-list-revealed.html |access-date=1 December 2024 |work=Engadget |date=17 August 2010}}</ref>

==Track listings and formats== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *'''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Graduate|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559-63883-2}}</ref> #"Graduate"  – 3:08 #"Graduate" (remix) – 3:25 #"Horror Show"  – 4:00 *'''Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Graduate|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559638892}}</ref> #"Graduate"  – 3:12 #"Semi-Charmed Life" (clean version) – 3:43 #"Semi-Charmed Life"  – 4:30 #"Graduate" (remix) – 3:27 {{col-2}} *'''Japanese CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Graduate|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=AMCY-2329}}</ref> #"Graduate"  – 3:08 #"Semi-Charmed Life" (clean version) – 3:42 #"Semi-Charmed Life"  – 4:27 *'''7–inch vinyl'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Graduate|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=United Kingdom 7–inch liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=E3883}}</ref> #"Graduate"  – 3:08 #"Horror Show"  – 4:00 {{col-end}}

==Credits and personnel== Credits and personnel are adapted from the ''Third Eye Blind'' album liner notes.<ref name="album">{{cite AV media notes|others=Third Eye Blind|title=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=Inlay cover|publisher=Elektra|id=62012-2}}</ref> *Stephan Jenkins – writer, vocals, percussion, producer *Kevin Cadogan – writer, guitar, vocals *Arion Salazar – bass, vocals *Brad Hargreaves – drums *Eric Valentine – engineering, producer, mixing *Ted Jensen – mastering

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "Graduate" !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Peak position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=278}}</ref> |87 |- {{single chart|Canadarock|6|chartid=3354|rowheader=true|access-date=October 7, 2020}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|83|artist=Third Eye Blind|artistid=3199|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2022}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|14|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|26|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Year-end chart performance for "Graduate" !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of '97: Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=5|issue=52|page=30|date=December 26, 1997}}</ref> |61 |} {{col-end}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release dates and formats for "Graduate" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United States |July 15, 1997 |Alternative radio |rowspan="3"|Elektra |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Be on the Lookout|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2163|page=A6|date=July 11, 1997}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Japan |July 25, 1997 |CD |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/71891/products/38255/1/|title=グラデュエイト {{!}} サード・アイ・ブラインド|trans-title=Graduate {{!}} Third Eye Blind|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |November 24, 1997 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=37|date=November 22, 1997}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graduate (Song)}} Category:1997 singles Category:Elektra Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Eric Valentine Category:Songs written by Stephan Jenkins Category:Songs written by Kevin Cadogan Category:Third Eye Blind songs