Graduation (Friends Forever)

Speaking to Billboard magazine, Vitamin C revealed the meaning behind "Graduation" in April 2000. One Sunday, while she was writing songs, she began to reminisce about the past and think about the future, comparing the mixed emotions of both scenarios. "It became a very emotional song to write and one that wasn't initially about graduation at all," she explained. "I think it represents a template for graduation from high school or college, from job to job, for whenever people move on in their lives."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-04-15.pdf|title=Elektra's Vitamin C Touches Nation's Heart with Bittersweet 'Graduation'|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|author-link=Chuck Taylor (music journalist)|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=16|page=100|date=April 15, 2000|access-date=October 6, 2020}} Vitamin C believes the song's message becomes clearer several years after graduating high school, when people become better aware of their emotions and begin to recognize the feeling of detachment.

The song is based on Pachelbel's Canon in D and includes vocals from the NYC All-City Chorus.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vitaminc/albums/album/111283/review/5943212/vitamin_c|title=Album Reviews - Vitamin C|magazine=Rolling Stone |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821221155/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vitaminc/albums/album/111283/review/5943212/vitamin_c|archive-date=August 21, 2007|access-date=April 12, 2010}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Graduation (Friends Forever)|others=Vitamin C|year=2000|type=US promo CD liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=PRCD 1459-2}} An alternate version of the song features interviews of Lyndhurst High School's (New Jersey) Class of 2000, in which Vitamin C speaks with several students about their friendships and futures.

The single reached number 12 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart, number 23 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40, and number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 30, 2000, becoming Vitamin C's second single to reach the top 40, after "Smile". Worldwide, it reached number 21 in New Zealand, number 13 in Sweden, number seven in Canada, and number four in Ireland. Although it was a hit in Ireland, it did not chart in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/603/vitamin-c/|title=Vitamin C Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=June 9, 2018}} The song found the most commercial success in Australia, where it climbed to number two in December 2000 and was certified platinum by the ARIA. It was Australia's 13th-most-successful song of 2000.

The music video for "Graduation (Friends Forever)" was directed by Gregory Dark. It features Vitamin C performing in a high school with various scenes interspersed throughout. Several of these clips feature a blonde girl struggling to talk to her crush, which she manages to accomplish before the final school day ends. During the video, Vitamin C dances with cheerleaders, sings with a choir, and watches the girl as she meets up with her crush by his locker. At the end of the video, the students leave the school while the singer stands motionless on the front steps. Once they are gone, she walks back into the empty building.{{cite web|url=https://iwantmypopculture.com/2016/11/08/video-review-vitamin-c-graduation-friends-forever/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028194805/https://iwantmypopculture.com/2016/11/08/video-review-vitamin-c-graduation-friends-forever/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 28, 2020|title=Video Review: Vitamin C "Graduation (Friends Forever)|publisher=I Want My Pop Culture|access-date=October 6, 2020}}

In 2020, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, a brand of the Molson Coors Beverage Company, worked together with Vitamin C and Canadian advertising agency Rethink Communications to create a new version of the song titled "Graduation 2020 (Worst Year Ever)", with the lyrics changed to reflect on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://musebycl.io/music/vizzy-hard-seltzer-remade-vitamin-c-song-graduation-kiss-2020|title=Vizzy Hard Seltzer Remade the Vitamin C Song 'Graduation' as a Kiss-Off to 2020|last=Gianatasio|first=David|publisher=Muse by Clio|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=February 21, 2021}} The company, which infuses ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) into its seltzer, asked the singer to provide new lyrics for the song. Vizzy Hard Seltzer director Elizabeth Hitch explained that the company wanted to send off 2020 with a memorable campaign, saying, "As the first hard seltzer with Vitamin C, it only made sense to pair-up with Vitamin C, the artist with the most iconic farewell anthem ever."{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/say-goodbye-to-2020-with-vizzys-remake-of-vitamin-cs-graduation-friends-forever-301198226.html|title=Say Goodbye to 2020 with Vizzy's Remake of Vitamin C's Graduation (Friends Forever)|publisher=Vizzy Hard Seltzer|via=PR Newswire|date=December 26, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2021}} When the company presented the offer to Vitamin C, she decided to use it as an opportunity for fundraising, and she donated her appearance fee, which Vizzy Hard Seltzer soon matched, to the United States Bartenders' Guild and the COVID-19 LA County Response Fund.

Australian maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Friends Forever (Graduation)|others=Vitamin C|year=2000|type=Australian maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559670732}}

1. "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (edit) – 4:26
2. "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (LP version) – 5:40
3. "Not That Kind of Girl" (LP version) – 3:28

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Friends Forever (Graduation)|others=Vitamin C|year=2000|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559-67080-5}}

1. "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (edit) – 4:26
2. "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (LP version) – 5:40

German maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Graduation (Friends Forever)|others=Vitamin C|year=1999|type=German maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559-67013-2}}

1. "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (LP version) – 5:39
2. "Me, Myself and I" (Pablo Flores Miami Mix – radio edit) – 4:36
3. "Me, Myself and I" (Jonathan Peters radio edit) – 4:00

Credits are taken from the European CD single liner notes and the Vitamin C album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Vitamin C|title-link=Vitamin C (album)|others=Vitamin C|year=1999|type=US CD album liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=62406-2}}

Studios

• Recorded at Axis Studios (New York City)
• Strings recorded at Right Track Studios (New York City)
• Mixed at Sony NYC (New York City)
• Mastered at Powers House of Sound and Sterling Sound (New York City)

Main personnel

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• Vitamin C – writing (as Colleen Fitzpatrick), vocals
• Josh Deutsch – writing, production, programming
• Vaneese Thomas – background vocals
• Ada Dyer – background vocals
• All City Chorus – choir
• Patricia Pates Eaton – All City Chorus music director
• Garry Hughes – keyboards
• Melvin Gibbs – bass guitar
• Malcolm Michiles – DJ
• Garry Hughes – production, programming
• Lloyd Puckitt – recording
• Tony Maserati – mixing
• Ethan Schofer – mixing assistant
• Mario DeArce – Pro Tools mixing operation
• Herb Powers – mastering

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Orchestra

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• Gregor Kitzis – violin, concertmaster
• Mary Rowell – violin
• Laura Seaton – violin
• Paul Woodiel – violin
• Mary Wooten – cello
• Dan Barrett – cello
• Jonas Tauber – cello
• Matt Goeke – cello
• Jill Jaffe – viola
• Sandy Robbins – viola
• Ron Lawrence – viola
• Sally Shumway – viola
• Ashley Horne – viola
• Joel Rudin – viola
• Martha Mooke – viola
• Denise Stillwell – viola
• Mark Wood – viola
• Peter "Ski" Schwartz – string arrangement writing and conducting
• Hugo Dwyer – string recording
• Jason Stasium – string recording assistant
• Andrew Fellus – string recording assistant

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Category:1999 songs

Category:2000 singles

Category:Elektra Records singles

Category:Graduation songs

Category:Music videos directed by Gregory Dark

Category:Songs about friendship

Category:Songs about nostalgia

Category:Songs written by Vitamin C (singer)

Category:Vitamin C (singer) songs

Category:Popular songs based on classical music