September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

"September" is a song by the band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 on ARC/Columbia Records.[1] 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,[2] and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The song remains a staple of the band's body of work and has been sampled, covered, remixed, and re-recorded numerous times.

"September"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
B-side
  • "Love's Holiday"
  • "Can't Hide Love"
ReleasedNovember 18, 1978 (1978-11-18)
RecordedSeptember 1978
Genre
Length3:35
LabelARC/Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Got to Get You into My Life"
(1978)		 "September"
(1978)		 "Boogie Wonderland"
(1979)
Music video
"September" on YouTube

Composition

"September" is in the key of A major with a tempo of 126 beats per minute in common time. The vocals span from A2 to E5.[4][5]

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."[6] 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.[7]

Although several theories about the significance of the date have been suggested, the songwriter Maurice White claimed he simply chose the 21st due to how it sounded when sung.[8] His wife, Marilyn White, however, claimed that September 21 was the due date of their son, Kahbran, according to lyricist Allee Willis.[9]

Reception

"September" has been one of the biggest commercial and critical successes of Earth, Wind & Fire's career. 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 1 million units sold.) "September" was later certified Gold for digital sales by the RIAA,[10][11][12] and has sold over 2 million digital copies in the US as of September 2017.[13] Earth, Wind & Fire recorded a new version of the song, retitled "December", for their 2014 Christmas album Holiday.

In the 2006 movie Night at the Museum, "September" is played on the last scene before the end credits.

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.[14] 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".[15]

A version featuring the band accompanied by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake is featured in the 2016 film Trolls. It was released on September 23, 2016, as part of the Trolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

A mash-up version of the song called "When the Rune Sparkles in September" was created for the Macross series by combing this song to "Rune ga Pika too Hikattara" sung by Minori Suzuki.

In the "Molly Makes Soup" episode of Mike & Molly the guys sing the song while riding in a limo through downtown Chicago.[16]

The 2014 Big Sean single "IDFWU" uses a slowed-down sample of the "ba-dee-ya" chorus in its closing ad-libs.

Comedian Demi Adejuyigbe is known for creating annual videos of himself dancing to the song on the 21st of September; he began this tradition in 2016 and each year receives millions of YouTube views.[17][18][19]

"September '99"
"September '99"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album The Ultimate Collection
Released1999
GenreDance-pop, house
Length3:43
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Maurice White, Allee Willis, Al McKay
Producer(s)Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"When Love Goes Wrong"
(1997)		 "September '99"
(1999)		 "All in the Way"
(2003)
Music video
"September 99" on YouTube

A remix of the song called "September '99" was issued in 1999 on Columbia Records.[20] 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.[21][22][23][24]

The song was remixed by English dance music duo Phats and Small[25] and was included on EWF's 1999 compilation album The Ultimate Collection.[20]

Kirk Franklin version
"September"
Single by Kirk Franklin
from the album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire
Released2007
GenreSoul, R&B, gospel
LabelStax
Songwriter(s)Maurice White, Allee Willis, Al McKay
Producer(s)Maurice White
Kirk Franklin singles chronology
"Look at Me Now"
(2006)		 "September"
(2007)		 "Declaration (This Is It)"
(2007)
Music video
"September" on YouTube

Kirk Franklin released a cover of "September" in 2007 on Stax Records.[26] The song reached No. 17 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart.[27][28]

Overview

Frankin's rendition was produced by Maurice White and appears on the 2007 tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire.[1]

Critical reception

Steve Jones of USA Today wrote: "Franklin turns the energetic 'September' into a gospel-fueled romp."[29] James Christopher Monger of AllMusic found "Kirk Franklin offering up an impeccable, if nearly identical rendition of 'September'."[30] 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."[31] People exclaimed "Kirk Franklin turns 'September' into a rousing celebration of faith."[32]

Chart performance

Sales and certifications
Sales certifications for "September"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[72] Platinum 90,000
Italy (FIMI)[73] Platinum 50,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[74] 3× Platinum+Gold 210,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[75] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[76]
Physical release 		Gold 1,000,000^
United States (RIAA)[77] 6× Platinum 6,000,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Earth, Wind & Fire: September. ARC/Columbia Records. 1978.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 179.
  3. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 289. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  4. White, Maurice. "Earth Wind & Fire "September" Sheet Music in F# Minor (transposable) – Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  5. "September – Earth, Wind & Fire – Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  6. "The Song That Never Ends: Why 'September' Sustains". NPR.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  7. Myers, Marc (September 3, 2019). "Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  8. Charnas, Dan (September 19, 2014). "The Song That Never Ends: Why Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' Sustains". Morning Edition.
  9. Myers, Marc (September 3, 2019). "Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'". Wall Street Journal.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 10, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Rock Music, etc., Terms". spider.georgetowncollege.edu. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-10-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  15. Simpson, Dave (July 11, 2018). "Why Atomic Kitten and Earth, Wind & Fire became England's World Cup chants". theguardian.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. "Mike & Molly – Earth, Wind & Fire (September)".
  17. Dessem, Matthew (September 21, 2019). "Celebrate the 21st of September With Demi Adejuyigbe's Videos About the 21st of September". Slate Magazine.
  18. Romano, Aja (September 21, 2018). "Do you remember the very best meme of September?". Vox.
  19. "Demi Adejuyigbe keeps it cool with this year's now-traditional Sept. 21 dance". News.
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  73. "Italian single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 27, 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "September" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  74. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved October 24, 2020. Type Earth Wind & Fire in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and September in the box under TÍTULO
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  76. "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 3, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  77. "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 22, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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