Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’ Makes Its Debut on Billboard Canada Charts 48 Years After Its Release
The funk band’s cross-generational 1978 hit arrives at No. 49 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. Plus: U.K. indie band bôa is the latest act to experience a major resurgence with 1998’s “Duvet,” largely thanks to TikTok.
Earth, Wind & Fire
“Do you remember the 21st night of September?”
Those are the first words sung by Earth, Wind & Fire’s then-frontman Maurice White in the funk band’s instantly recognizable hit “September.” This week, the funky track debuts on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 at No. 49, dated Oct. 3 — nearly 50 years after its 1978 release. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song re-enters the U.S. chart at No. 45, but previously reached No. 8.
While this week’s chart is attributed to the first week of October, the song has undoubtedly hit the charts because of its association with September 21. The date has become somewhat of a hliday on the internet, with social media users posting memes, countdowns and celebrations tied directly to the song. It's no surprise the song has a streaming surge every year on that date.
“September” is an infectious hit that boasts a joyful groove, blending Latin horns with popular ‘70s genres like disco and funk. As an unwavering cultural phenomenon, the track has sustained an uplifting, euphoric atmosphere that instantly fills a dance floor decades later and has become a wedding reception staple.
Co-written by White, guitarist Al McKay and songwriter Allee Willis, it was reported that White’s “ba-dee-ya” was a temporary lyric. But he convinced Willis to keep it in, claiming that the song’s groove trumped the lyrics. For many, it has become the most uplifting part of the song.
In recent years, TikTok has helped propel many older songs onto the charts. The latest example to go viral on the app is “Duvet,” a track from U.K. indie band bôa. This week, the song debuts at No. 69 on the Canadian Hot 100.
The song was released in 1998 on the group’s debut album, The Race of a Thousand Camels, and gained a cult following after its use as the theme song for Serial Experiments Lain, an anime series released that same year. Bôa went on to release two more albums: 2001’s Twilight and 2005’s Get There, before parting ways.
It wasn’t until August 2021 that the track made its way onto TikTok and reached a whole new generation of listeners, specifically the lyric: “And you don't seem to understand / A shame, you seemed an honest man.” Its popularity prompted the band to reunite, and as of publication, the audio clip has been attached to over 430,000 videos on the social media platform. Now, “Duvet” has landed its first-ever chart entry in Canada, further cementing the track’s cultural relevance.
A couple of older tracks have maintained their position on the chart for multiple months. Mac Miller & Ty Dolla $ign’s 2016 hit “Cinderella” sits at No. 37 in its 22nd week on the chart, and was recently crowned TikTok Canada’s song of the summer. Meanwhile, Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” falls four spots to No. 40 as it enters week 22. Released in 1983, the King of Pop’s debut coincided with a major chart resurgence in Canada, following his record-breaking biopic, Michael.
While she’s not currently charting, Dolly Parton earned her first-ever top 10 album on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart this month, following her death in August. What’s more, some of her biggest tracks, including “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” debuted on the Canadian Hot 100.
Find all of Billboard Canada's charts here.
