Why Earth, Wind & Fire Chose the 21st of September for Their Iconic Song
The 21st night of September has evolved from a famous opening lyric in Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1978 hit song “September” into a massive annual social media tradition. The viral internet memes surrounding the date persist each year, prompting renewed curiosity about how the lyric came to be.
The Origins of a Pop Music Staple
Released as a single in 1978, Earth, Wind & Fire’s signature track climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles chart. Decades later, the song’s opening question—asking listeners if they remember the 21st night of September—became the foundation for widespread internet humor. Creative users routinely post memes featuring screenshots of Maurice White, the band’s former founder, leader, and co-lead singer, performing in the song’s music video.
Songwriting Realities Behind the Date
When Maurice White invited songwriter Allee Willis to co-write the track in 1978, the band had already penned the song’s infectious intro. In a 2014 interview with NPR cited by Yahoo Entertainment, Willis recounted stepping into the studio and immediately recognizing the upbeat energy of the piece. When collaborating on the lyrics, Willis stated that she and the band cycled through multiple calendar dates, checking lines like “Do you remember the first, the second, the third, the fourth…” before landing on the 21st.
“I constantly have people coming up to me, and they get so excited to know what the significance was. And there is no significance beyond it, just sang better than any of the other dates,” Willis told NPR, as reported by Yahoo Entertainment.
New Revelations in Recent Documentaries
Despite the long-standing narrative that the date was chosen purely for its phonetic cadence, alternative context emerged this year. In the documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World), directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and released in June, Marilyn White offered a different perspective. According to the late Maurice White’s longtime partner, the 21st of September originally marked the expected arrival date of their son, Kahbran, though he was ultimately born early in August.
