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 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | September 1978 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:35 | |||
Label | 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 funk band Earth, Wind & Fire. It was recorded during the sessions for their album I Am (1979) and released as a single in 1978. It was included on The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (1978).
"September" reached number one on the US R&B chart, number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100,[1] and number three on the UK Singles Chart.[2]
Composition
"September" is in the key of A major with a tempo of 126 beats per minute in common time. The vocals span from E4 to F♯5.[3][4]
Using a chord progression written by Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay, Allee Willis and Maurice White wrote the song over one month. Willis was originally 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."[5]
Although several theories about the significance of the date have been suggested, the songwriters simply chose the 21st due to how it sounded when sung.[6]
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,[7][8][9] and has sold over 2 million digital copies in the US as of September 2017.[10] 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.[11] 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".[12]
September 99
"September '99" | ||||
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Single by Earth, Wind & Fire | ||||
from the album The Ultimate Collection | ||||
Released | 1999 | |||
Genre | Pop, R&B | |||
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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"September '99" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1999 by Sony Music. September '99 reached No. 25 on the UK Singles chart.[13][14][15][16]
Overview
September 99 is a remix of EWF's 1978 single September. The song was remixed by English Dance Music duo Phats and Small.[13][14][17]
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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Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[50] | Gold | 45,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[51] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[52] Digital download |
Gold | 30,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Physical release |
Silver | 250,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] | Platinum | 600,000 |
United States (RIAA)[55] Physical release |
Gold | 1,000,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[55] Digital download |
Gold | 2,065,000[10] |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Accolades
The information regarding accolades attributed to "September" is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net.[56]
Author | Country | Publication | Year | Rank |
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Bruce Pollock | US | The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944–2000 | 2005 | * |
Gary Mulholland | UK | This Is Uncool: The 500 Best Singles Since Punk Rock | 2002 | * |
(*) designates lists that are unordered.
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ White, Maurice. "Earth Wind & Fire "September" Sheet Music in F# Minor (transposable) – Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
- ↑ "September – Earth, Wind & Fire – Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
- ↑ "The Song That Never Ends: Why 'September' Sustains". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ↑ Charnas, Dan (September 19, 2014). "The Song That Never Ends: Why Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' Sustains". Morning Edition.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 10, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
- ↑ "Rock Music, etc., Terms". spider.georgetowncollege.edu. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ MacInnes, Paul (23 November 2017). "When a terrace tune goes viral: the hunt for the source of the September chant". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ↑ Simpson, Dave (11 July 2018). "Why Atomic Kitten and Earth, Wind & Fire became England's World Cup chants". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "The Ultimate Collection – Earth Wind & Fire – Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- 1 2 "EARTH, WIND & FIRE – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION". Hitparade.ch.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 25 July 1999 - 31 July 1999". Billboard.com.
- 1 2 3 "Earth, Wind & Fire: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Phats & Small". allmusic.com.
- ↑ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – 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.
- 1 2 "Musicline.de – Earth, Wind & Fire Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – September". Irish Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Hit Parade Italia – Indice per Interprete: E". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Charts.nz – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". VG-lista.
- ↑ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs S". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002
- ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 27, 1979
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in French). Les classement single.
- ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 336 Vikuna 12.8. - 19.8. 1999)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Earth, Wind & Fire" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)". VG-lista.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September 99 (Phats & Small Remix)". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in French). Les classement single.
- ↑ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ↑ "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ↑ Top 100 1979 - UK Music Charts
- ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ↑ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1979
- ↑ "Earth Wind & Fire "September"". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ↑ "Italian single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 14 February 2016. Type Earth, Wind & Fire in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and September in the box under TÍTULO
- ↑ "British single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 October 2014. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type September in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 August 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type September in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- 1 2 "American single certifications – Earth, Wind & Fire – September". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 3 October 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- ↑ "Shining Star". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved 2016-10-13.