Graduation (Friends Forever)

"Graduation (Friends Forever)" (also titled "Friends Forever (Graduation)") is a song by American pop singer Vitamin C, released as the third single from her 1999 debut studio album, Vitamin C, in March 2000. She wrote the song as a response to how many friends drift apart soon after graduation from high school. Upon its release, the single reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, as well as number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The music video, directed by Gregory Dark, features Vitamin C in a school building while a blond girl attempts to speak with her crush before the end of the day.

"Graduation (Friends Forever)"
Single by Vitamin C
from the album Vitamin C
Released	March 2000[1]
Recorded	1999
Length	5:39 (album version) 4:26 (radio edit)
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Colleen Fitzpatrick Josh Deutsch
Producer(s)	Josh Deutsch Garry Hughes
Vitamin C singles chronology
"Me, Myself and I" (1999) "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (2000) "The Itch" (2000)
Alternative cover
German cover

Background

Speaking to Billboard magazine, Vitamin C revealed the meaning behind the song 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." 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.[1]

Content

The song is based on Pachelbel's Canon in D and includes vocals from the NYC All-City Chorus.[2][3] 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.[1][3]

Commercial performance

The single reached number 12 on the US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart,[4] number 23 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40,[5] 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".[6] Worldwide, it reached number 21 in New Zealand,[7] number 13 in Sweden,[8] number seven in Canada,[9] and number four in Ireland.[10] Although it was a hit in Ireland, it did not chart in the United Kingdom.[11] The song found the most commercial success in Australia, where it climbed to number two in December 2000 and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[12][13] It was the nation's 13th-most-successful song of 2000.[14]

Music video

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 blond 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.[15]

Track listings

US promo CD[3] "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (edit) "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (LP version) "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (LP version with student interviews) "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (instrumental) "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (call out hook) Audio bio Australian maxi-single[16] "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (edit) – 4:26 "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (LP version) – 5:40 "Not That Kind of Girl" (LP version) – 3:28

German maxi-single[17] "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (LP version) – 5:39 "Me, Myself and I" (Pablo Flores Miami Mix – radio edit) – 4:36 "Me, Myself and I" (Jonathan Peters radio edit) – 4:00 European CD single[18] "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (edit) – 4:26 "Friends Forever (Graduation)" (LP version) – 5:40

Personnel

Credits are taken from the European CD single liner notes.[18]

Instrumentation Vitamin C – vocals Vaneese Thomas, Ada Dyer – background vocals All City Chorus – choir Garry Hughes – keyboards Melvin Gibbs – bass guitar Malcolm Michiles – DJ Gregor Kitzis, Mary Rowell, Laura Seaton, Paul Woodiel – violins Mary Wooten, Dan Barrett, Jonas Tauber, Matt Goeke – celli Jill Jaffe, Sandy Robbins, Ron Lawrence, Sally Shumway, Ashley Horne, Joel Rudin, Martha Mooke, Denise Stillwell, Mark Wood – violas

Writing and production Vitamin C (as Colleen Fitzpatrick) – writer Josh Deutsch – writer, producer, programming, A&R Garry Hughes – producer, programming Tony Maserati – mixing Patricia Pates Eaton – All City Chorus music director Peter "Ski" Schwartz – string arrangement writer and conductor Gregor Kitzis – concert master Ron Baldwin – executive producer, management

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 2 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 7 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[19] 33 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 21 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8] 13 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 38 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[4] 12 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[5] 23

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Australia (ARIA)[14] 13 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[13] Platinum 70,000^^ ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Taylor, Chuck (April 15, 2000). "Elektra's Vitamin C Touches Nation's Heart with Bittersweet 'Graduation'" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 16. p. 100. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
2. "Rolling Stone". Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
3. Graduation (Friends Forever) (US promo CD liner notes). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 2000. PRCD 1459-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
4. "Vitamin C Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
5. "Vitamin C Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
6. "Vitamin C Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
7. "Charts.nz – Vitamin C – Friends Forever (Graduation)". Top 40 Singles.
8. "Swedishcharts.com – Vitamin C – Friends Forever (Graduation)". Singles Top 100.
9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7231." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Friends Forever (Graduation Song)". Irish Singles Chart.
11. "Vitamin C Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
12. "Australian-charts.com – Vitamin C – Friends Forever (Graduation)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
14. "2000 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
15. "Video Review: Vitamin C "Graduation (Friends Forever)". I Want My Pop Culture. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
16. Friends Forever (Graduation) (Australian maxi-single liner notes). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 2000. 7559670732.CS1 maint: others (link)
17. Graduation (Friends Forever) (German maxi-single liner notes). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 1999. 7559-67013-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
18. Friends Forever (Graduation) (European CD single liner notes). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 2000. 7559-67080-5.CS1 maint: others (link)
19. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7215." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.