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"Graduate"
Single by Third Eye Blind
from the album Third Eye Blind
B-side	"Horror Show" "Semi-Charmed Life"
Released	July 15, 1997 (1997-07-15)
Studio	Toast Skywalker Ranch H.O.S. (San Francisco)
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	3:08
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Stephan Jenkins Kevin Cadogan
Producer(s)	Stephan Jenkins Eric Valentine
Third Eye Blind singles chronology
"Semi-Charmed Life" (1997) "Graduate" (1997) "How's It Going to Be" (1997)

"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.

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 "It's 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. He further explained the meaning of the song:

"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.

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. Jenkins's vocal range spans one octave, from A₄ to B₅.

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". Third Eye Blind performed the song alongside Billy Idol at the 1998 KROQ Weenie Roast. In January 2020, the band performed the song as a duet with Yungblud at the Roxy Theatre. Jenkins has acknowledged that "Graduate" is a staple on their performance set lists, further commenting: "I'm not sick of it because the audience, they ignite off of it.". Despite being released as a B-side, "Horror Show" has been performed live by the band over 50 times as of June 2023.

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.

A re-recorded version was included as a playable song in the 2010 rhythm game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Third Eye Blind album liner notes.

• 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

Release history

References

1. "Graduate : Backline". June 25, 2015. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015.
2. ^ "'There Was No Overnight Success': An Oral History of Third Eye Blind's Self-Titled Debut". Billboard. April 6, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
3. ^ Third Eye Blind (1997). "Third Eye Blind 'Graduate' Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
4. Miller, Kirk (May 27, 2009). "Damn the man". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
5. "Billy Idol Helps Third Eye Blind "Graduate" at Weenie Roast". MTV. June 23, 1998. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
6. Krol, Charlotte (January 27, 2020). "Yungblud performs 'Graduate' with Third Eye Blind at surprise Grammys week gig". NME. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
7. Antonelli, Laura. "Songwriter interviews: Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind". Songfacts. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
8. "Third Eye Blind songs played live".
9. "Missy Elliott, Third Eye Blind, Smash Mouth "Can't Hardly Wait" for Soundtrack". MTV. April 9, 1998. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
10. McElroy, Griffin (August 17, 2010). "Full Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock track list revealed". Engadget. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
11. Graduate (European CD single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559-63883-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Graduate (Australian CD single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559638892.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Graduate (Japanese CD single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. AMCY-2329.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Graduate (United Kingdom 7–inch liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. E3883.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Third Eye Blind (Inlay cover). Third Eye Blind. Elektra. 1997. 62012-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 278.
17. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3354." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
18. "Third Eye Blind: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
19. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
20. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
21. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2163. July 11, 1997. p. A6.
22. "グラデュエイト | サード・アイ・ブラインド" [Graduate | Third Eye Blind] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
23. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 22, 1997. p. 37.

• 1997 singles
• Elektra Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Eric Valentine
• Songs written by Stephan Jenkins
• Songs written by Kevin Cadogan
• Third Eye Blind songs