Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1978 song “September” became a perennial disco and funk dance-floor favorite.
The song was written by Maurice White, Al McKay, and Allee Willis, and produced by White and Charles Stepney. Its buoyant rhythm, horn arrangement, handclaps, and repeated “ba-dee-ya” refrain gave it an unusually durable appeal across disco, funk, pop, and later party-music settings.
Released as a single in 1978, “September” reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also included on the group’s 1979 compilation album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1.
A common misconception is that the lyrics explain a specific historical event. They do not provide a complete narrative; the date functions mainly as a vivid, celebratory memory within the song’s joyful performance.