September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)
"September" | ||||
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Single by Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
from the album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 | ||||
B-side |
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Released | November 18, 1978 | |||
Recorded | September 1978 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 3:35 | |||
Label | ARC/Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Maurice White | |||
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"September" on YouTube |
"September" is a song by the American 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.
It was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" in 2018.[4]
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.[5][6]
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."[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] His wife, Marilyn White, however, claimed that September 21 was the due date of their son, Kahbran, according to lyricist Allee Willis.[10]
Personnel[]
- Maurice White – lead and background vocals
- Philip Bailey – lead and background vocals, congas
- Verdine White – background vocals, bass guitar
- Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
- Al McKay – background vocals, electric guitar
- Larry Dunn – keyboards
- Fred White – drums
- Johnny Graham – guitar
- Rahmlee Michael Davis and Michael Harris – trumpet
- Louis Satterfield – trombone
- Andrew Woolfolk – soprano saxophone
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,[11][12][13] and has sold over 2 million digital copies in the US as of September 2017.[14] Earth, Wind & Fire recorded a new version of the song, retitled "December", for their 2014 Christmas album Holiday.
In 2021, Rolling Stone included "September" at #65 on their updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."[15]
Cultural impact[]
The 1997 album Samertajm[16] by Polish musician Norbi[17] sampled "September" on the track "Kobiety są gorące" ("The women are hot").[18] The album won him a Fryderyk Music Award (the Polish equivalent of a Grammy) the following year, in the Dance / Electronics / Club Music Album of the Year category.
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.[19] 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".[20]
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.[21]
The 2014 Big Sean single "IDFWU" uses a slowed-down sample of the "ba-dee-ya" chorus in its closing ad-libs.
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.
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.[22][23][24]
In the 2008 video game Wii Music, September was a playable song.
"September '99"[]
"September '99" | ||||
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Single by Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
from the album The Ultimate Collection | ||||
Released | 1999 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop, house | |||
Length | 3:43 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Maurice White, Allee Willis, Al McKay | |||
Producer(s) | Maurice White | |||
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"September 99" on YouTube |
A remix of the song called "September '99" was issued in 1999 on Columbia Records.[25] 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.[26][27][28][29]
The song was remixed by English dance music duo Phats and Small[30] and was included on EWF's 1999 compilation album The Ultimate Collection.[25]
Kirk Franklin version[]
"September" | ||||
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Single by Kirk Franklin | ||||
from the album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
Released | 2007 | |||
Genre | R&B, gospel | |||
Label | Stax | |||
Songwriter(s) | Maurice White, Allee Willis, Al McKay | |||
Producer(s) | Maurice White | |||
Kirk Franklin singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"September" on YouTube |
Kirk Franklin released a cover of "September" in 2007 on Stax Records.[31] The song reached No. 17 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart.[32][33]
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."[34] James Christopher Monger of AllMusic found "Kirk Franklin offering up an impeccable, if nearly identical rendition of 'September'."[35] 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."[36] People exclaimed "Kirk Franklin turns 'September' into a rousing celebration of faith."[37]
Chart performance[]
Weekly charts[]
1999 remix[]
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Year-end charts[]
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Sales and certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[78] | 6× Platinum | 420,000![]() |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[79] | Platinum | 90,000![]() |
Italy (FIMI)[80] | Platinum | 50,000![]() |
Japan (RIAJ)[81] Full-length ringtone |
Gold | 100,000* |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[82] | 3× Platinum+Gold | 210,000![]() |
United Kingdom (BPI)[83] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000![]() |
United States (RIAA)[84] Physical release |
Gold | 1,000,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[85] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000![]() |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References[]
- ^ a b Earth, Wind & Fire: September. ARC/Columbia Records. 1978.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 179.
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 289. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
- ^ "National Recording Registry". Library of Congress. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ White, Maurice (June 21, 1999). "Earth Wind & Fire "September" Sheet Music in F# Minor (transposable) – Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ "September – Earth, Wind & Fire – Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ "The Song That Never Ends: Why 'September' Sustains". NPR.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ Myers, Marc (September 3, 2019). "Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ Charnas, Dan (September 19, 2014). "The Song That Never Ends: Why Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' Sustains". Morning Edition.
- ^ Myers, Marc (September 3, 2019). "Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Archived copy". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on May 10, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Rock Music, etc., Terms". spider.georgetowncollege.edu. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 09/28/2017" (PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ "Samertajm". Polish Wikipedia. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "Norbi". Polish Wikipedia. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "Kobiety są gorące". YouTube.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ MacInnes, Paul (November 23, 2017). "When a terrace tune goes viral: the hunt for the source of the September chant". theguardian.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (July 11, 2018). "Why Atomic Kitten and Earth, Wind & Fire became England's World Cup chants". theguardian.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ "Mike & Molly – Earth, Wind & Fire (September)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
- ^ Dessem, Matthew (September 21, 2019). "Celebrate the 21st of September With Demi Adejuyigbe's Videos About the 21st of September". Slate Magazine.
- ^ Romano, Aja (September 21, 2018). "Do you remember the very best meme of September?". Vox.
- ^ "Demi Adejuyigbe keeps it cool with this year's now-traditional Sept. 21 dance". News.
- ^ a b Earth, Wind & Fire: September 99. Columbia Records. 1999.
- ^ "RPM Top Dance". bac-lac.gc.ca. Vol. 70, no. 7. RPM. December 6, 1999.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40: 25 July 1999 – 31 July 1999". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 25 July 1999 – 31 July 1999". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
- ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Phats & Small". allmusic.com.
- ^ Kirk Franklin: September. Stax Records. 2007.
- ^ "Kirk Franklin: September (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kirk Franklin: September (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ Jones, Steve (June 19, 2007). "Various Artists: Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind and Fire". USA Today. USA Today.
- ^ Monger Christopher, James. "Various Artists: Interpretations Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
- ^ Joseph, Mike (June 18, 2007). "Various Artists: Interpretations". popmatters.com. Popmatters.
- ^ Arnold, Chuck; Stoynoff, Natasha; Herndon, Jessica (April 16, 2007). "Picks and Pans Review: Quick Cuts". People. People.
- ^ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0103a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 4507." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. March 2, 1979. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – September". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September". VG-lista.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs S". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Earth Wind Fire Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Earth Wind Fire Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Earth Wind Fire Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 27, 1979". Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Earth Wind Fire Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ Danish Singles Chart 27 August 1999
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 336 Vikuna 12.8. – 19.8. 1999)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – September". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Earth, Wind & Fire" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)". VG-lista.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ^ "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 1979 – UK Music Charts". www.uk-charts.top-source.info.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1979". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1979". Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "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" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2021. Select 2013年4月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "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 the TÍTULO column heading.
- ^ "British single certifications – Earth Wind & Fire – September". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
External links[]
- 1978 singles
- 1978 songs
- 1999 singles
- Columbia Records singles
- Stax Records singles
- Disco songs
- Earth, Wind & Fire songs
- Song recordings produced by Maurice White
- Songs written by Al McKay
- Songs written by Allee Willis
- Songs written by Maurice White
- United States National Recording Registry recordings
- Internet memes
- Music memes
- Songs about September
- Internet memes introduced in 2014