September Song

"September Song" is a deeply nostalgic and sentimental reflection on a first love experienced during adolescence. JP Cooper himself has explained that the song is a look back at an innocent teenage romance. The central theme is the wistful remembrance of a simpler time and the enduring impact of a formative relationship. The 'September' in the title is significant; in the UK, it marks the end of the long summer holidays and the return to school. Therefore, the love interest is his 'September Song' because she is the person he eagerly awaited to see again after the summer break. The song captures the feeling of summer lasting "too long" when you're young and in love, and time moving "so slowly, when you're only fifteen."

The lyrics explore the purity and intensity of this young love, describing it as "strong as a lion" yet "soft as the cotton." Phrases like "our hearts had never been broken" and "we were so innocent darling" emphasize the unspoiled and idealized nature of this first romantic experience. The song also delves into the bittersweet reality of time's passage. The narrator wonders what has become of this person and if they still remember him. There's a palpable sense of loss and longing, especially in the lines where he imagines seeing her face in crowds, which brings a "mad sense of danger" because if they were to meet now, they'd be strangers. This highlights the painful gap between a cherished, intimate past and a disconnected present. The recurring motif of playing their shared "mixtape" signifies a conscious effort to keep the memory alive, making it a timeless anthem for the narrator.

The narrative unfolds from the perspective of an adult reminiscing about a poignant teenage romance. This love, which blossomed when the narrator was just fifteen, is remembered with a powerful mix of strength and tenderness, described as being "strong as a lion" and "soft as the cotton you lie in." The relationship was marked by an profound innocence; their hearts were unbroken, and they would spend entire nights lost in conversation. A central element to their shared past is a mixtape, a powerful symbol of their bond, which they had on repeat every weekend. This music becomes a vessel for memory, a recurring motif that instantly transports the narrator back to that time.

The chorus introduces the core metaphor of the "September Song." This person represents the end of summer and the return to a reality where they can be together, likely after a summer break apart. For the narrator, summer "lasted too long," a sentiment that underscores the intense longing and impatience of youth. Time itself seemed to crawl at that age, stretching out endlessly when separated from their love. The central question posed throughout the song, "Tell me where have you gone? Do you remember me?", reveals the narrator's present-day yearning and uncertainty. It's a plea for connection and a validation that the memory was as significant to the other person as it was to him.

As the song progresses, the narrator's present reality is colored by these memories. He catches fleeting glimpses of his past love's face in the most unexpected places, like on a crowded underground station. These moments trigger a "mad sense of danger," a fear that an actual encounter would be too painful because they would now be strangers, their shared intimacy lost to time. Despite this fear and the passage of years, the emotional anchor remains the mixtape, which he admits to still playing every weekend. The repetition of this act signifies that this memory is not a passive recollection but an active, cherished part of his life.

In the bridge, the song's own chorus becomes a meta-reference, with the narrator recalling how "they were singing it for us," suggesting that the music of their youth felt like it was written just for them, articulating their own feelings perfectly. The melody of their past is inseparable from the memory of the person. The song concludes with a powerful declaration: as the years continue to pass, this person will forever remain his "September Song." This solidifies the idea that some memories, particularly those of a first, innocent love, are so formative and potent that they define a season of one's life indefinitely, holding a permanent place in the heart regardless of time or distance.

"September Song" was written by JP Cooper (John Paul Cooper), Jon Hume, Benjamin McIldowie (Mr Hudson), and was produced by Teemu Brunila with additional production by Mike Spencer. The song was recorded in 2016 and released on September 16, 2016, as the second single from his debut studio album, "Raised Under Grey Skies" (2017).

JP Cooper has stated that the inspiration behind the song was to capture the essence of a "sweet and innocent" teenage romance, free from the complexities and over-sexualization of adult relationships. He described it as a "nostalgic, innocent look at a teenage romance - probably one of your first romances." The idea was to evoke that feeling of looking back as an adult and remembering how simple things were, and wondering what became of that first love. The specific reference to September relates to the British school calendar, where September signifies the return to school after the summer holidays, a time of anticipation for the young narrator to reunite with his crush. Cooper shared insights into his writing process, mentioning that the concept evolved through various twists and turns, though the core idea of teenage love was clear from the start.

The rhyme and rhythm of "September Song" are crafted to be simple, effective, and supportive of its pop-soul feel.

Rhyme Scheme: The verses primarily use a simple AABB rhyme scheme, which lends a straightforward, almost nursery-rhyme quality that complements the theme of youthful innocence. For example: "Our love was strong as a lion / Soft as the cotton you lie in / Times we got hot like an iron / You and I." This predictable pattern makes the lyrics easy to follow and remember.

Rhythm: The song has an infectious, laid-back rhythm with a clear, steady beat, characteristic of the tropical house elements in its production. This creates a gentle, swaying feel that is more reflective and nostalgic than melancholic. The lyrical rhythm is conversational and flows naturally over the musical beat. The contrast between the slower verses and the more rhythmically dense, uplifting chorus helps to build emotional energy. The tempo is moderate, allowing Cooper's soulful vocal phrasing to shine without feeling rushed, enhancing the song's reflective mood.

"September Song" employs a combination of literary and musical techniques to create its soulful and memorable quality.

Literary Techniques:

• Narrative Voice: The song is told from a first-person perspective, creating an intimate and personal connection with the listener as the narrator reflects on his past.
• Rhetorical Questions: The recurring lines "Tell me where have you gone? Do you remember me?" are poignant rhetorical questions that express the narrator's longing and uncertainty, engaging the listener's empathy.
• Imagery: The song uses simple yet evocative imagery like seeing a face "down on the underground station" to ground the abstract feeling of memory in a concrete, relatable experience.
• Juxtaposition: The lyrics contrast the innocence of the past ("our hearts had never been broken") with the narrator's present awareness of loss and the fear of meeting as "strangers."

Musical Techniques:

• Vocal Delivery: JP Cooper's vocal performance is central to the song's appeal. It's smooth, soulful, and filled with emotion, moving from a gentle, reflective tone in the verses to powerful, soaring belts in the chorus, effectively conveying both nostalgia and intense feeling. His use of vocal runs adds to the soulful character.
• Instrumentation: The arrangement blends acoustic elements with a subtle tropical house beat, creating a sound that is both contemporary and timeless. The groovy, laid-back melody is infectious and supports the nostalgic theme without becoming overly somber.
• Structure and Harmony: The song follows a conventional verse-chorus structure, making it highly memorable. The finale builds with layered harmonies and a more upbeat backing, providing a sense of grand, emotional release. The song is in the key of E♭ Major, a common key for popular music.

"September Song" became a significant international hit for JP Cooper, marking his breakthrough as a solo artist after gaining initial fame as the vocalist on Jonas Blue's "Perfect Strangers." Released in September 2016, the song gained major traction and peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. It also performed well internationally, reaching the top 10 in Ireland and Sweden. The song is certified Silver in the UK. Its parent album, "Raised Under Grey Skies," sold over a million copies, with "September Song" being a primary driver of its success, accumulating over 600 million global streams.

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Arni & Kinski, tells a sweet narrative of a rekindled romance centered around unfinished graffiti, which further amplified its romantic and nostalgic themes. The song's popularity was praised by fellow artists like Stormzy and Ed Sheeran. A notable cover version was released by Irish singer Nadine Coyle in 2018. "September Song" solidified JP Cooper's place in the pop-soul scene and remains one of his most recognizable and beloved tracks, praised for its heartfelt lyrics and Cooper's emotive vocal performance.

The song is rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its nostalgic and emotional depth.

• September Song: This is the central metaphor. The love interest is not just a person but a 'song' associated with a specific time - September. This frames her as a melody that the narrator mentally replays, representing the end of a long wait (summer) and the beginning of a cherished time together (the school term). It encapsulates all the feelings of anticipation, reunion, and youthful joy.
• The Mixtape: A powerful symbol of the 1990s and early 2000s youth culture, the mixtape represents the couple's shared history and personal soundtrack. The act of having it "repeating" signifies the loop of memory and the desire to hold onto that perfect time. The fact that the narrator *still* plays it every weekend shows that this is not a forgotten past but a living memory he actively cherishes.
• Strong as a Lion, Soft as Cotton: This simile captures the dual nature of their young love. It was powerful, passionate, and resilient ("strong as a lion"), but also comforting, safe, and innocent ("soft as the cotton you lie in").
• Time Moves So Slowly: This line captures the subjective experience of time in youth, especially when filled with longing. For the fifteen-year-old narrator, the wait to see his love feels eternal, highlighting the intensity of his feelings.

Several key phrases and motifs recur throughout "September Song," anchoring its themes and making it highly memorable.

• "You were my September song": This is the central recurring motif and the song's title phrase. Its repetition in the chorus solidifies the identity of the past love as the embodiment of a specific, cherished season of life. It functions as the song's main hook and thematic core.
• "Time moves so slowly, when you're only fifteen": This line, also in the chorus, is repeated to emphasize the perspective of youth and the intensity of the narrator's longing. It's a universally relatable sentiment that grounds the song in the specific experience of being a teenager in love.
• "Tell me where have you gone? Do you remember me?": This pair of questions repeats in the chorus, acting as an emotional refrain. It underscores the central conflict of the song: the gap between a vivid memory and an unknown present, full of yearning and a desire for reciprocation.
• "We had that mixtape on every weekend / Had it repeating, had it repeating": This phrase appears in the pre-chorus and its sentiment is echoed later. The mixtape is a crucial motif for the couple's shared past, and its repetition in the lyrics mirrors the physical act of replaying the tape, symbolizing the narrator's looping memories.