Fans have just discovered why Earth, Wind & Fire sang about September 21st on their unforgettable hit song.
The date of September 21st has lived on in music since 1978 when the iconic band dropped the track as part of their first compilation album, The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1.
The classic funk song begins with a chord progression penned by guitarist Al McKay, and the lyrics were then composed by the band's vocalist, Maurice White, alongside songwriter Allee Willis.
White starts the song off with the memorable verse: "Do you remember / The 21st night of September? / Love was changing the minds of pretenders / While chasing the clouds away."
'September' quickly proved to be one of the biggest hits of the band's career, as it went gold and multi-platinum around the world, with many cities even declaring September 21st as "Earth, Wind & Fire Day".
However, for decades, devoted listeners have questioned why the group chose that specific date, and whether there was a significant meaning behind it.
One supporter even questioned on platform X: "I’m curious what happened on September 21st that was so good that Earth Wind & Fire had to make a song about it."
Many assumed that it has something to do with the seasons changing as September 21 is the first day of fall, but Willis - who was a struggling songwriter in 1978, but managed to a forge friendship with the group - finally revealed to NPR in 2014 that that is not the case.
Speaking to the publication, the late co-writer shared that they just picked the date because vocally, it sounded the best. "We went through all the dates: 'Do you remember the first, the second, the third, the fourth ... ' and the one that just felt the best was the 21st," Willis explained.
"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. So ... sorry!" she quipped.
However, Willis has also mentioned a possible link to the original due date of Earth, Wind & Fire's lead singer's son, Kahbran. She mentions his wife, Marilyn, as the origin of this theory.
In 2018, she recalled the conversation to the Wall Street Journal, saying: "I told him what I had been saying for 40 years: 'There is no significance. That date just sang the best.' Marilyn stopped me. She said, 'Are you kidding? The 21st was the day that our son, Kahbran, was supposed to be born.'"
Willis continued: "Maurice never told me that. For decades, I had been disappointing people whose birthdays or weddings were on the 21st of September. Now they know."
Upon hearing the revelations, fans took to their social media to share their shock, with one person writing: "The story behind Earth, Wind & Fire's song about the 21st of September adds an interesting layer to a classic hit."
Another stunned fan said: "Just when I thought I couldn’t love this song anymore," while a third remarked: "Lovvvve this. What a beautiful thing. #September21st."
Despite its titular month, the song was actually released in November 1978 and the song reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Earth, Wind & Fire’s most cherished songs.
According to the group's bassist, Verdine White, the band never expected the track to have such a lasting legacy, stating: "When it came out, it was a really good song, but it wasn't as big then," per Songfacts.
"People now are getting married on Sept. 21. The stock market goes up on Sept. 21. Every kid I know now that is in their 20s, they always thank me because they were born on Sept. 21. They say it's one of the most popular songs in music history."
'September' will live on in the hearts of many, and will truly never grow old. Let's continue to blast it the other 364 days of the year!
