Do you remember the 21st night of September? Those iconic lyrics have echoed through countless celebrations — from weddings and proms to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and high school reunions. This timeless classic by Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1978, quickly soared to the top, claiming number one on the US R&B chart, number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the UK singles chart. But what makes this song so irresistibly catchy? And why does the seemingly random date, the 21st of September, hold such power?
The story behind “September” is as captivating as the tune itself. It all started in 1978 when Allee Willis, a struggling songwriter in Los Angeles, received a life-changing call. The caller? None other than Maurice White, the iconic leader of Earth, Wind & Fire. Maurice extended an offer for Willis to co-write the band’s next album. Arriving hesitantly at the studio the next day, Willis was met with a euphoric surprise — the intro to “September” had just been composed.
Describing that moment, Willis recalls, “As I open the door, they had just written the intro to ‘September.’ And I just thought, ‘Dear God, let this be what they want me to write!’ Because it was obviously the happiest-sounding song in the world.”
The magic of the song’s progression came from guitarist Al McKay, while Maurice White and Willis crafted vivid images of joyous evenings under twinkling stars. But as Willis tried to pen meaningful lyrics, she struggled with the repetitive nonsense phrase “ba-dee-ya” — a trademark of Maurice’s songwriting style. “He was singing, ‘Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember / Ba-dee-ya, dancing in September,’ and I pleaded, ‘We are going to change ‘ba-dee-ya’ to real words, right?’”
Her hopes were dashed. At the final vocal session, desperation set in. Willis begged White to rewrite the baffling refrain. “And finally, when it was so obvious he was not going to do it, I just said, ‘What the f- – – does ‘ba-dee-ya’ mean?’ And he essentially said, ‘Who the f- – – cares?’”
This exchange revealed a profound lesson in songwriting: never let the lyrics get in the way of the groove. It is this pulsating beat, this infectious rhythm, that has propelled “September” beyond decades, entrancing generations without the need for perfect lyrical clarity.
Even now, the mystique of “September” remains — a dazzling celebration of joy, music, and the mysterious power of an unforgettable groove. Whether you understand every word or simply surrender to the beat, the 21st night of September will forever be etched into the hearts of many.
As Allee Willis poignantly stated, this song is not about the literal meaning, but about capturing an experience so electric, so jubilantly unforgettable, that no nonsense phrase could ever diminish its timeless magic.