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September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| 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 =
| length =
| label = ARC/Columbia
| writer =
| producer = Maurice White
| prev_title = Got to Get You into My Life
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Boogie Wonderland
| next_year = 1979
| misc =
}}
"'September'" is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 on ARC/Columbia Records. 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' National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" in 2018.
Composition
"September" is in the key of A major with a tempo of 126beats per minute in common time. The vocals span from A to E.
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.
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. His wife, Marilyn White, however, claimed that September21 was the due date of their son, Kahbran, according to lyricist Allee Willis.
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 1million units sold.) "September" was later certified Gold for digital sales by the RIAA, and has sold over 2 million digital copies in the US as of September 2017. 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 No. 65 on their updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
Cultural impact
In the 2006 film '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. 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, Englands going all the way"'.
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'.
The 2014 Big Sean single "IDFWU" uses a slowed-down sample of the "ba-dee-ya" chorus in its closing ad-libs.
The 2016 film 'The Nice Guys' played 'September' (and also 'Boogie Wonderland') during a Hollywood party.
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 song is one of six randomly-selected songs that may play on the 'Guardians of the Galaxy:' Cosmic Rewind roller coaster, which opened in May of 2022 at Walt Disney Worlds EPCOT theme park.
Comedian Demi Adejuyigbe is known for creating annual videos of himself dancing to the song on September 21; he began this tradition in 2016 and each year receives millions of YouTube views.
"September '99"
{{Infobox song
| name = September '99
| cover = EarthWind&Fire - September 99.jpg
| 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
| 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 =
}}
A remix of the song called "September '99" was issued in 1999 on Columbia Records. 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.
The song was remixed by English dance music duo Phats and Small and was included on EWF's 1999 compilation album 'The Ultimate Collection'.
Kirk Franklin version
{{Infobox song
| 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
| writer = Maurice White, Allee Willis, Al McKay
| producer = Maurice White
| prev_title = Look at Me Now
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Declaration (This Is It)
| next_year = 2007
| misc =
}}
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.
Overview
Frankin'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."
Charts
Weekly charts
1999 remix
Year-end charts
Sales and certifications
References
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