19 Sep On Repeat Since 1978: Why ‘September’ Still Slaps

Earth, Wind & Fire performs in Virginia in August 2022. (“Earth, Wind and Fire” by All-Pro Reels via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 license)

Commentary, Keisa Reynolds

There’s only one tune that comes to mind when Sept. 21 rolls around. It doesn’t matter if you are 30, 50 or 5 years old, you’re singing Earth, Wind & Fire’s iconic hit.

The song, “September,” was released in 1978 as part of the band’s first compilation album, “The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1.” It quickly dominated the airwaves and cemented its spot on playlists for generations to come.

Rolling Stone ranks “September” at No. 65 on the current iteration of its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song reached a new generation after making its way onto the “Trolls” soundtrack in 2016 with a cover by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick.

My 6-year-old son first heard it that way. The song is a staple on our family playlist, but he hadn’t realized just how cool it was. Fortunately, he agrees that the original version reigns supreme.

The legendary song lives on through radio plays, marching band halftime shows, weddings, and a recent summer tour. Locally, Earth, Wind & Fire headlined the Black Radio Experience at Blue Note Jazz Festival in Napa on Aug. 30.

“September” is the type of song that has at least a dozen people singing along as it’s played between performances at a festival. Marching bands across the country have performed the song for many a halftime show. “Classic” doesn’t begin to describe its cultural significance; any DJ at multigenerational celebration will likely have the song queued up.

Steeped in a romantic nostalgia, the song awakens a sense of feeling alive and pulls you to the dance floor. It reaches the listener on an emotional level, giving us a sudden willingness to soften our edges and indulge in the beat.

I asked my siblings, whose ages range from 36 to 53, to share their favorite memories of the song. For my eldest brother, Tony, the song takes him back to the sun glistening over Lake Merritt during festivals. During his adolescence, the song was a staple during summertime in the Bay Area. It was how many kids learned how to dance to show off during soul train lines in the schoolyard.

The song doesn’t just bring back personal memories; it has solidified its place in Bay Area cultural history.

“The Bay Area was one of the most popular destinations in the ’70s and ’80s. Those were the best two decades ever. Everyone and their mama wanted to be in the Bay Area during that time,” Tony said.

“September” has such cultural standing, I can imagine children generations from now knowing it as well as millennials now know the Temptations’ 1964 hit, “My Girl.”

Celebrating September 21st

In a time of political unrest, we need reminders to hold each other close and revel in the few joys remaining. What are you doing to celebrate the 21st of September?

The date of Sept. 21st is irrelevant to the song but manages to encapsulate the transitional period and feeling of new beginnings that comes in September. The date marks a transition into the fall season and reminds us to focus on joy.

In 1981, Sept. 21 was marked by the United Nations as International Day of Peace. During a time of political turmoil and terror, it makes more sense than ever that Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” plays a role in bringing us together.

As adults, we might be slowing down the fun, chasing after our responsibilities instead. But songs like “September” remind us that we still have each other. The joy is still here. In the music, in the memories, and in the people we hold close. We gotta keep going while we’re still here.