View source for Social: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.<ref name=Song>{{cite work|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: September|date=1978|publisher=ARC/Columbia Records}}</ref> September reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, No. 8 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=179}}</ref> and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="Dean">{{cite book |title= Rock N' Roll Gold Rush |last= Dean |first= Maury |authorlink= Maury Dean |coauthors= |year= 2003 |publisher= Algora |location= |isbn= 0-87586-207-1 |url= |page= 289 }}</ref>

==Composition==
"September" is in the key of A major with a [[Tempo|tempo]] of 126 beats per minute in common time. The vocals span from E<sub>4</sub> to F{{Sharp}}<sub>5</sub>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0015575|title=Earth Wind & Fire "September" Sheet Music in F# Minor (transposable)&nbsp;– Download & Print|last=White|first=Maurice|website=Musicnotes.com|access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotontrack.com/track/september/1560993|title=September&nbsp;– Earth, Wind & Fire&nbsp;– Spot On Track|website=www.spotontrack.com|access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/19/349621429/the-song-that-never-ends-why-earth-wind-fires-september-sustains|title=The Song That Never Ends: Why 'September' Sustains|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-04-15|language=en-us}}</ref> 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.<ref name="wsj">{{Cite web |title=Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’
|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/do-you-remember-the-message-in-earth-wind-fires-september-11567520286 |last=Myers |first=Marc |date=September 3, 2019 |accessdate=September 20, 2019 |work=Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

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.<ref name="npr">{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/19/349621429/the-song-that-never-ends-why-earth-wind-fires-september-sustains |title=The Song That Never Ends: Why Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' Sustains |last=Charnas |first=Dan |work=Morning Edition |date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> His wife, Marilyn White, however, claimed that September 21 was the due date of their son, Kahbran, according to lyricist Allee Willis.<ref name="WSJ">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/do-you-remember-the-message-in-earth-wind-fires-september-11567520286 |title=Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’|last=Myers |first=Marc |work= Wall Street Journal |date= September 3, 2019}}</ref>

==Reception==
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,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table%3DSEARCH_RESULTS%26artist%3DEarth+Wind%26format%3DSINGLE%26go%3DSearch%26perPage%3D50 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-03-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510144821/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS |archivedate=May 10, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="Spider">{{cite web|url=http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/music/burnette/Mus570d/terms.htm|title=Rock Music, etc., Terms|publisher=spider.georgetowncollege.edu|accessdate=March 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518145136/http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/music/burnette/Mus570d/terms.htm|archive-date=May 18, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-10-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604040853/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |archivedate=June 4, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> and has sold over 2 million digital copies in the US as of September 2017.<ref name="us sales">{{cite news|url=http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-9-28-17.pdf|title=Nielsen SoundScan charts&nbsp;– Digital Songs&nbsp;– Week Ending: 09/28/2017|publisher=[[Company:Nielsen SoundScan|Nielsen SoundScan]]|accessdate=October 3, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002192602/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-9-28-17.pdf|archivedate=October 2, 2017}}</ref> Earth, Wind & Fire recorded a new version of the song, retitled "December", for their 2014 Christmas album ''Holiday''.

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/23/terrace-tunes-viral-source-september-chant |title=When a terrace tune goes viral: the hunt for the source of the September chant |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=23 November 2017 |website=theguardian.com|access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref> 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"''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/11/why-atomic-kitten-and-earth-wind-fire-became-chants-england-world-cup-russia-2018 |title=Why Atomic Kitten and Earth, Wind & Fire became England's World Cup chants |last=Simpson |first=Dave |date=11 July 2018 |website=theguardian.com |access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>

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''.

=="September ’99"==
{{Infobox song
| name       = September '99
| cover      = File:EarthWind&Fire - September 99.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = Earth, Wind & Fire
| album      = The Ultimate Collection
| released   = 1999
| format     =
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = Pop, R&B
| length     = 3:43
| label      = Columbia
| writer     = Maurice White, Allee Willis, Al McKay
| producer   = Maurice White
| prev_title = When Love Goes Wrong
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title = All in the Way
| next_year  = 2003
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|wn5Q37qOiiA|"September 99"}}}}
}}

A remix of the song called "September '99" was issued in 1999 on Columbia Records.<ref name=S99>{{cite work|title=Earth, Wind & Fire: September 99|date=1999|publisher=Columbia Records}}</ref> The single reached Nos. 1 & 25 on the Canadian Dance Songs chart and UK Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9936&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9936.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9936|title=Earth Wind & Fire : September 99|publisher=RPM}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19990725/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100: 25 July 1999 - 31 July 1999|website=officialcharts.com}}</ref><ref name="UK chart" />

The song was remixed by English dance music duo Phats and Small<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/phats-small-mn0000330607|title=Phats & Small|website=allmusic.com}}</ref> and was included on ''The Ultimate Collection''.<ref name=S99 />

==Chart performance==
{{col-begin|width=67%}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Chart (1978–79)
! Peak<br />position
|-
| Australia Kent Music Report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |website=Austchartbook.com.au |accessdate=2016-10-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archivedate=March 5, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|19|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September|refname=FlandersWeekly}}
|-
{{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|10|chartid=0103a}}
|-
{{singlechart|Canadadance|14|chartid=4507}}
|-
|France (IFOP)<ref>{{cite web|title= Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70 |publisher= InfoDisc |date=1979-03-02 |accessdate=22 December 2019 |url=http://infodisc.fr/Tubes_Artistes_E.php/Tubes_Artiste_Choisi.php |language= fr}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
{{singlechart|Germany|20|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September}}
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland2|8|song=September}}
|-
|Italy (Hit Parade Italia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/indici/per_interprete/ae.htm|title=Hit Parade Italia&nbsp;– Indice per Interprete: E|accessdate=June 2, 2018|website=Hit Parade Italia}}</ref>
|align="center"|43
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|18|year=1979|week=4}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|19|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September}}
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|12|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September}}
|-
{{singlechart|Norway|6|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September|refname=Norway1}}
|-
|South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(S).html|title=SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs S|website=South African Rock Lists|accessdate=June 2, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|18
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|13|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September}}
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|refname="UK chart"}}
|-
|align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002''</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Hot Soul Singles<ref name="wsj" />
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|align="center"|41
|-
|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19790127.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 27, 1979 |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214184828/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19790127.html |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|}

===1999 remix===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1999)
!Peak <br>position
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|32|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)|refname=FlandersPeak}}
|-
|align="left"|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>Danish Singles Chart 27 August 1999</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|20
|-
|align="left"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-08-07.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|publisher=Music & Media|accessdate=June 26, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|65				
|-
{{singlechart|France|64|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)|refname=France1}}
|-
{{singlechart|Germany|40|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)}}
|-
|align="left"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://timarit.is/files/12813825.pdf#navpanes=1&view=FitH|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 336 Vikuna 12.8. - 19.8. 1999)|publisher=Dagblaðið Vísir|accessdate=July 13, 2018|language=is}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|27	
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|12|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|25|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)|refname="d10099"}}
|-
{{singlechart|Norway|15|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)|refname=Norway2}}
|-
|align="left"|Scotland (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19990725/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|28
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|48|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)|refname=Sweeden1}}
|-
{{singlechart|Swiss|33|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)}}
|-
|align="left"|UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref name="UK chart" />
| style="text-align:center;"|25
|-
|align="left"|UK Dance (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/19990725/104/|title=Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40|publisher=officialcharts.com}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (2011)
!Peak<br>position
|-
{{singlechart|France|29|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|song=September|refname=France2}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1979)
!Position
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |publisher=Austchartbook.com.au |accessdate=2016-10-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archivedate=March 5, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|80
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6855b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6855b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6855b|title=1979 Top 200 Singles|work=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|accessdate=June 2, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|108
|-
|UK Singles Chart <ref>[http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1979.shtml Top 100 1979 - UK Music Charts]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|41
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1979.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |date= |accessdate=2016-10-13}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|78
|-
|US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1979YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1979 |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713094315/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1979YESP.html |archive-date=July 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|54
|}
{{col-end}}

==Sales and certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2018|access-date=January 23, 2018|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/earth-wind-fire-september|title=Earth Wind & Fire "September"|publisher=IFPI Denmark|access-date=January 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|type=single|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|title=September|relyear=1978|access-date=November 27, 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|award=Gold|type=single|access-date=14 February 2016|certyear=2014|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|title=September|note=Digital download}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|type=single|access-date=3 October 2014|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|title=September|relyear=1978|note=Physical release}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|type=single|access-date=3 August 2018|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|title=September|relyear=2012|certyear=2018|refname=uk2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Gold|type=single|access-date=3 October 2014|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|title=September|certyear=1979|note=Physical release}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Gold|type=single|access-date=3 October 2014|artist=Earth, Wind & Fire|title=September|salesamount=2,065,000|certyear=2006|note=Digital download|salesref=<ref name="us sales"/>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.earthwindandfire.com/video/ Music video from Earth, Wind & Fire's site]
* {{MetroLyrics song|earth-wind-fire|september}}

{{Earth, Wind & Fire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:September (Song)}}
[[Category:Internet memes]]

{{Sourceattribution|September (Earth, Wind &amp; Fire song)|1}}