What's Up With Memes Asking 'Do You Remember The 21st Of September?' The Classic Earth, Wind & Fire Song And Its Meme Remixes Explained

The 21st of September has forever been cemented in internet history as a day to celebrate anything and everything, all because of a particularly catchy 1978 track by funk band Earth, Wind & Fire.

The phrase "Do You Remember, The 21st of September?" has been so prevalent in internet culture for so long that different generations associate different memes with the track.

Whether "September" brings up images of dancing skeletons or the opening riffs of the track evoke memories of a terrible flute cover, the past decade has ensured that the song will forever be commemorated with meme edits every year.

Here's a brief history of how Earth, Wind & Fire's classic song "September" became a super hit decades after its first release, as well as why it pops up around the 3rd and 21st of September annually.

Where Does The Phrase 'Do You Remember The 21st of September?' Come From?

Chicago-based band Earth, Wind & Fire released their now-iconic song "September" as part of a compilation album on November 18th, 1978, and also as a single in November of that year. The song was certified Gold upon release in the U.S., but it wasn't until it was reposted to YouTube in the 2010s that the phrase "Do You Remember?" became a meme.

On January 11th, 2013, the video for the song was posted to YouTube by the official Earth, Wind & Fire account, gaining over 700 million views in the decade since.

How Did 'September' By Earth, Wind & Fire Become An Internet Meme?

The popularity of Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" exploded in the years after it was uploaded to YouTube, often peaking annually during the month of September as people share the song with each other on the 21st of the month, a practice made easier using the new YouTube upload and the plethora of memes referencing it.

The years 2014 and 2015 also saw a sharp rise in comedic meme edits of the song, as seen in a Closet Pankin video called "Kenny's Hat" and a VideoGameDunkey upload called "Septemba"

One of the first viral memes featuring "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire was one featuring dancing skeletons with the phrase "September Skeletons" often being used to reference the viral video.

What Are Some Viral 'September' Meme Remixes And Covers?

One of the most viral memes about "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire is a terrible flute or recorder cover from 2016. The audio became a popular meme sound effect on TikTok in the late 2010s and early 2020s, placing a shrill and hilarious recorder sound over the song's chorus.

Sound-boosted versions of the cover became a prevalent TikTok meme in the 2020s, as seen in a viral TikTok by user @yoyo_sab.

For the full history of "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.