September (song)

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1978 song by Earth, Wind & Fire

title: "September (song)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1978-singles", "1978-songs", "1999-singles", "american-record-corporation-singles", "columbia-records-singles", "earth,-wind-&-fire-songs", "internet-memes-introduced-in-2016", "kirk-franklin-songs", "song-recordings-produced-by-charles-stepney", "song-recordings-produced-by-maurice-white", "songs-written-by-al-mckay", "songs-written-by-allee-willis", "songs-written-by-maurice-white", "stax-records-singles", "united-states-national-recording-registry-recordings", "unofficial-observances"] description: "1978 song by Earth, Wind & Fire" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_(song)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1978 song by Earth, Wind & Fire ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameSeptember
coverEarthWindAndFireSeptember7InchSingleCover.jpg
altThe single sleeve features the musicians standing side-by-side, mostly wearing suits and smiling
typesingle
artistEarth, Wind & Fire
albumThe Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
B-side
released
recordedSeptember 1978
length
labelARC/Columbia
composerAl McKay
producerMaurice White
prev_titleGot to Get You into My Life
prev_year1978
next_titleBoogie Wonderland
next_year1979
misc
::

| name = September | cover = EarthWindAndFireSeptember7InchSingleCover.jpg | alt = The single sleeve features the musicians standing side-by-side, mostly wearing suits and smiling | type = single | artist = Earth, Wind & Fire | album = The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 | B-side = | released = | recorded = September 1978 | genre =

"September" is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single on November 18, 1978, by ARC/Columbia Records. The song was written by Allee Willis and Maurice White, based on a music sequence developed by guitarist Al McKay. Initially included as a track for The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, "September" was very successful commercially and reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, No.8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No.3 on the UK Singles Chart. The song remains a staple of the band's body of work and has been sampled, covered, remixed, and re-recorded numerous times.

It was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" in 2018.

Composition

"September" has a funk groove based on a four-measure pattern that is consistent between verses and choruses, built on a circle of fifths.

Written in the key of A major, and using a chord progression written by Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay, vocalist Maurice White and songwriter Allee Willis wrote the song over one month. Willis was initially bothered by the gibberish "ba-dee-ya" lyric White used through the song, and begged him to rewrite it: "I just said, 'What the fuck does "ba-dee-ya" mean?' And he essentially said, 'Who the fuck cares?' I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him, which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove." The song was included on the band's first compilation—The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1—solely to boost sales with original content.

The lyrics ask, "Do you remember the 21st night of September?". Maurice White claimed he simply chose the 21st due to how it sounded when sung. However, in a 2019 interview with The Wall Street Journal, his wife Marilyn White explains that September 21st was the expected birthdate of their son Kahbran. Recounting hearing the song for the first time, Marilyn said, "My whole body smiled. It was like a secret message between us and our son. I said, 'Oh my God, you remembered.' 'Yeah,' Maurice said, 'Yeah, I did.

Reception

"September" has been one of the biggest commercial and critical successes of Earth, Wind & Fire's career, and vocalist Philip Bailey considers it one of the group's best songs. The song was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry and certified gold in the US (until the RIAA lowered the sales levels for certified singles in 1989, a Gold single equaled 1million units sold.) "September" was later certified Gold for digital sales by the RIAA, and has sold over 2million digital copies in the US as of September 2017. Record World called it a "smooth, quick song that captures the mood of autumn nostalgia, and should capture radio audiences too." In 2021, Rolling Stone included "September" at No.65 on their updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

"September" is one of the group's biggest hits in several decades of performing. A 2005 retrospective on Earth, Wind & Fire by Billboard ranked this song sixth on their top singles. Earth, Wind & Fire recorded a new version of the song, retitled "December", for their 2014 Christmas album Holiday.

Cultural impact

"September" has had renewed interest in the 21st century and has been an Internet meme as well as the source of original content by social media users. Every September 21 for several years, Demi Adejuyigbe released a series of popular video with remixed versions of the song, emphasizing the date. CBS set the date in 2025 to air a Grammy special honoring Earth, Wind, & Fire.

The song has been featured in many films: Sisqó and Vitamin C cover the song during the closing credits of the film Get Over It (2001), Night at the Museum (2006) has it in the last scene before the end credits, and a version featuring the band accompanied by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake is featured in the 2016 film Trolls. The 2019 film Polar features the song playing during its opening sequence, with the characters singing along to it together after pulling off a successful hit. The 2023 film Robot Dreams uses the song multiple times, including to accompany the climax.

In the United Kingdom the song has been popular as the basis of football chants at a number of clubs: according to a Guardian article this originated at Newcastle United F.C. where fans started singing a chant about player Chancel Mbemba in the autumn of 2015. It was also adapted by fans of the England national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia: "Woah, England are in Russia / Woah, drinking all the vodka / Woah, England's going all the way".

The "December" version from Holiday appears in a 2022 Christmas TV commercial for Kohl's.

Personnel

Earth, Wind & Fire

Technical personnel

  • Tom "Tom Tom 84" Washington – string, background vocal, and horn arrangements

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "September""] | Chart (1978–1979) | Peak position | Australia (Kent Music Report) | Canada Singles (Canadian Recording Association) | Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | France (IFOP) | South Africa (Springbok Radio) | US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) | US Cash Box Top 100 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 12 | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | ::

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "September""]

Chart (2008–2009)PeakJapan (Japan Hot 100)
31
::

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "September""]

Chart (2020–2024)Peak
::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="Annual sales chart performance for "September""]

Chart (1979)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)Canada Top Singles (RPM)UK Singles (OCC)US Billboard Hot 100US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)US Cash Box
80
108
41
78
33
54
::

Certifications

"September '99"

| name = September '99 | cover = | alt = A black silhouette of a woman's body on an orange background | type = single | artist = Earth, Wind & Fire | album = The Ultimate Collection | released = 1999 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Dance-pop, house | length = 3:43 | label = Columbia | composer = *Al McKay | lyricist = *Allee Willis

A remix of the song by English dance music duo Phats & Small called "September '99" was issued in 1999 on the compilation album The Ultimate Collection. The single reached No. 1 on the RPM Canadian Dance Songs chart, No. 4 on the UK Dance Chart and No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

Track listing

The compact disc single from INCredible Records (catalogue code INCR24CD) features:

  1. "September '99" (radio edit) – 3:45
  2. "September '99" (Mutant disco vocal mix) – 6:44
  3. "September '99" (Mutant disco dub) – 6:11

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="Weekly sales chart performance for "September '99""]

Chart (1999)PeakDenmark (IFPI)Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)
20
65
27
::

::data[format=table title="Weekly sales chart performance for "September '99""]

Chart (2011)PeakUK Pop (Music Week)
14
::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="Annual sales chart performance for "September '99""]

Chart (1999)PositionNetherlands (Dutch Top 40)
109
::

Kirk Franklin version

| name = September | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Kirk Franklin | album = Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire | released = 2007 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = R&B, gospel | length = | label = Stax | composer = *Al McKay | lyricist = *Allee Willis

Kirk Franklin released a cover of "September" in 2007 on Stax Records. The song reached No. 17 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. Franklin's rendition was produced by Maurice White and appears on the 2007 tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire,

Critical reception

Steve Jones of USA Today wrote: "Franklin turns the energetic 'September' into a gospel-fueled romp." James Christopher Monger of AllMusic found "Kirk Franklin offering up an impeccable, if nearly identical rendition of 'September'." Mike Joseph of PopMatters said "Kirk Franklin takes the band's 'September' (literally, by sampling the original version) and refashions it into an anthem of survival, using 'September' as a metaphor for a time when things aren't going so well, and using his talented choir of singers to give the lyrics a jubilant reading." People exclaimed "Kirk Franklin turns 'September' into a rousing celebration of faith."

Holiday Version

They released a Holiday version of the song called December in their Holiday album.

References

Bibliography

  • The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Songbook, published by Hal Leonard LLC (1989)

References

  1. (1978). "Earth, Wind & Fire: September". ARC/Columbia Records.
  2. "The song that never ends: Why Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' sustains".
  3. (1978-12-07). "The album that puts {{underline". [[Jet (magazine).
  4. Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004". Record Research.
  5. Dean, Maury. (2003). "Rock N' Roll Gold Rush". Algora.
  6. "National Recording Registry". Library of Congress.
  7. Walser, Robert. (2004). "This Is Pop: In Search of the Elusive at Experience Music Project". Harvard University Press.
  8. "The Song That Never Ends: Why 'September' Sustains". NPR.org.
  9. Myers, Marc. (September 3, 2019). "Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'". [[Wall Street Journal]].
  10. Charnas, Dan. (September 19, 2014). "The Song That Never Ends: Why Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' Sustains". [[Morning Edition]].
  11. (3 September 2019). "Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'".
  12. (2014-04-15). "Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind & Fire". Penguin Publishing Group.
  13. "Rock Music, etc., Terms". spider.georgetowncollege.edu.
  14. "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 09/28/2017". [[Nielsen SoundScan]].
  15. (November 18, 1978). "Hits of the Week".
  16. (September 15, 2021). "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
  17. Jones, Ivory M.. "Fresh Album, New Start for EWF". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  18. (2020-09-17). "Earth, Wind & Fire & Legacy Recordings Release New Remix & Video of Classic "September"". [[Legacy Recordings]].
  19. Romano, Aja. (September 21, 2018). "Do you remember the very best meme of September?".
  20. Petski, Denise. (September 11, 2025). "CBS Sets Earth, Wind & Fire & Cyndi Lauper Grammy Specials; Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell Among Special Guests".
  21. MacInnes, Paul. (November 23, 2017). "When a terrace tune goes viral: the hunt for the source of the September chant".
  22. Simpson, Dave. (July 11, 2018). "Why Atomic Kitten and Earth, Wind & Fire became England's World Cup chants".
  23. Adam, Pet. (November 1, 2022). "Kohl's deals-focused holiday blitz features bevy of mobile tactics". Marketing Dive.
  24. (1993). "The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits". Billboard Books.
  25. (1978-11-23). "The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1". [[American Record Corporation]].
  26. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". [[Kent Music Report]].
  27. (1979-03-10). "''Billboard'' Hits of the World". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  28. Pennanen, Timo. (2021). "Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021". Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
  29. (March 2, 1979). "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70". InfoDisc.
  30. "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs S".
  31. "Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".
  32. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 27, 1979".
  33. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2009/09/09".
  34. (July 17, 2013). "1979 Top 200 Singles". [[Library and Archives Canada]].
  35. "Top 100 1979 – UK Music Charts".
  36. "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979".
  37. (January 2, 2013). "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1979".
  38. (1979-12-22). "[[Billboard (magazine)". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  39. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1979".
  40. "Phats & Small".
  41. (December 6, 1999). "RPM Top Dance". [[RPM (magazine).
  42. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40: 25 July 1999 – 31 July 1999". [[Official Charts]].
  43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 25 July 1999 – 31 July 1999". [[Official Charts]].
  44. Danish Singles Chart. August 27, 1999.
  45. (August 7, 1999). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
  46. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 336 Vikuna 12.8. – 19.8. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir.
  47. (January 22, 2000). "Most Broadcast of 1999: Pop Top 20 Tracks of 1999". [[Music Week]].
  48. "Jaarlijsten 1999". [[Dutch Top 40]].
  49. (2007). "Kirk Franklin: September". [[Stax Records]].
  50. "Kirk Franklin: September (Adult R&B Songs)".
  51. "Kirk Franklin: September (Hot Gospel Songs)".
  52. (2007-04-02). "Celebrities". Johnson Publishing Company.
  53. Jones, Steve. (June 19, 2007). "Various Artists: Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind and Fire".
  54. Monger Christopher, James. "Various Artists: Interpretations Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire". [[Allmusic]].
  55. Joseph, Mike. (June 18, 2007). "Various Artists: Interpretations". [[Popmatters]].
  56. (April 16, 2007). "Picks and Pans Review: Quick Cuts".

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