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AP Photo Graduates celebrate the during commencement ceremony at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on May 1. President Barack Obama gave the commencement address. In black gowns and mortarboards, thousands of blissful, soon-to-be University of Michigan graduates danced, swayed and sang to The Black Eyed Peas' ' and Outkast's ' Clearly, this was not their parents' ceremony, even if a funk-rock band also kicked out older, parent-friendly selections -- Stevie Wonder's ' and Steely Dan's ' -- as robed students twirled and tweeted on Michigan Stadium's football field in Ann Arbor last weekend. To be sure, these pop and rock songs were performed during a casual and festive pre-ceremony. Problem Child 1 2 3 Torrent Download there.

And it wasn't your typical anyway: As 2010's only commencement with ' and ' in the set list, it boasted the largest crowd (85,000) to witness a speech by President Obama since his inauguration. Still, I've come to the conclusion that are not just about ' anymore. Yes, English composer Sir Edward Elgar's lively, most famous march from 1901 remains standard fare at graduations, including Grand Valley State University's recent commencement and upcoming at many local high schools. Then there are regal marches such as Sir William Walton's ' and William Latham's ',' performed by the official University of Michigan Commencement Band for last weekend's processional and recessional. To preface GVSU's May 1 commencement, its Symphonic Wind Ensemble trotted out Aaron Copland's familiar ' and Walter Piston's 'Tunbridge Fair.' But there was non-traditional fare, too: Singers accompanied by a pianist delivered 'Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)' by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, and 'Anytime (I Am There),' a post-911 song by modern American composer William Finn.

And across the country, popular rock, pop and country tunes are creeping into commencement ceremonies, from punk band Green Day's ', which talks of fine memories and an unpredictable future, to pop-piano star Billy Joel's ',' performed by a jazz combo at a Manhattan School of Music graduation. At its May 28 commencement, East Kentwood High School's band will play the traditional 'Pomp and Circumstance' as well as American composer Sam Hazo's zesty 'Ride!,' which director of bands James Ross describes as 'a very cool, rock-sounding piece.' 'We try to keep the music uplifting and fitting for the dignity of the ceremony,' Ross said. 'If it is good music, well arranged and has a connection, I don't have an issue with it. Some of the more 'pop' stuff seems to make its way into vocal music sooner than instrumental (because it's) more complicated to transfer a pop tune and arrange it for band.'

Renowned Northview High School band director Max Colley Jr., who retires at the end of this school year after leading its bands since 1974, insisted conventional graduation music serves its purpose. 'The tradition of playing 'Pomp and Circumstance' is there,' he told me. 'In my opinion, no good reason to change.'

Oh, there's room for pop music at graduations, Colley said, provided it matches the dignified nature of the event. 'I personally would always make sure the lyrics to the song would be appropriate for such a setting.

I don't have any problem with the music being of a more popular nature, if it's meant to entertain or is associated with the school in some way.' I guess that dignified thing rules out Alice Cooper's ',' Lynyrd Skynyrd's ' or Guns N' Roses' '.' But those rockers would probably sound funny on tubas, oboes and violins anyway. E-mail John Sinkevics.