Learn to Fly
Encyclopedia
For other results, see Learning to fly
.
"Learn to Fly" is the first single from the Foo Fighters
' third album There Is Nothing Left to Lose
. It was released on two different singles in the UK in 1999. "Learn to Fly" is one of the band's most successful and recognized singles, including being their first Modern Rock
#1 song on the Billboard charts
, beating their single "This Is a Call
"'s previous peak of #2. Reaching #19, it is also the band's second highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100
, while being their highest charting on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart along with the 1996 hit "Big Me
", reaching #13.
The song is in the key of E major, (V, II, I) then switches to G major (III, I, V, VI) at the bridge ("Fly along with me...") 4/4 time signature
.
. Two airline mechanics (played by Jack Black
and Kyle Gass
from Tenacious D
) hide "World Domination brand 'Erotic' Sleeping Powder" in the coffee-maker, which ends up incapacitating everyone who drinks the coffee. The band, having avoided the coffee (choosing liquor instead), finds themselves forced to land the plane. For the video, each band member (Dave Grohl
, Nate Mendel
and Taylor Hawkins
) portrays himself as well as several other roles. Also, as in the music video for "Monkey Wrench
", a Foo Fighters song is played as Muzak
in the beginning, this time with "Everlong
" from The Colour and the Shape
. The premise of smuggling drugs in airplane coffee is nearly identical to an actual smuggling operation that was uncovered in 1997.
The video was filmed in London
, England
in a cabin crew training airplane. The video won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video
.
Disk 2
Notes
Learning To Fly
Learning to fly or learn to fly may refer to:* Fledging, a bird, bat or other flighted creature learning how to fly* Flight training, in which a person takes lessons to fly an aircraft such as a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft...
.
"Learn to Fly" is the first single from the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
' third album There Is Nothing Left to Lose
There Is Nothing Left to Lose
Reviews for There Is Nothing Left to Lose have generally been positive. Rolling Stones Greg Kot rated the album three-and-a-half out of five stars. He started by explaining that "the first thirty seconds [...] are a bridge to singer Dave Grohl's past"...
. It was released on two different singles in the UK in 1999. "Learn to Fly" is one of the band's most successful and recognized singles, including being their first Modern Rock
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
#1 song on the Billboard charts
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, beating their single "This Is a Call
This Is a Call
"This Is a Call" is the first major single released by the Foo Fighters from their self-titled debut album. It was released in 1995. No video was made for the song.Dave Grohl said about the song: "The chorus says 'This is a call to all my past resignation'...
"'s previous peak of #2. Reaching #19, it is also the band's second highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, while being their highest charting on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart along with the 1996 hit "Big Me
Big Me
"Big Me" is the fourth major single, released in 1996, by the Foo Fighters from their self-titled debut album Foo Fighters. Although it never charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the song became a crossover hit for the band on pop radio during the spring of 1996, when it reached #13 on the Billboard...
", reaching #13.
The song is in the key of E major, (V, II, I) then switches to G major (III, I, V, VI) at the bridge ("Fly along with me...") 4/4 time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
.
Music video
The music video for the song takes place on an airplane, parodying the movie Airplane!Airplane!
Airplane! is a 1980 American satirical comedy film directed and written by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker and released by Paramount Pictures...
. Two airline mechanics (played by Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
and Kyle Gass
Kyle Gass
Kyle Richard Gass , also known as KG or Kage, is an American rock musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is a member of the bands Tenacious D and Trainwreck. In Tenacious D , Gass plays lead guitar and sings backup vocals, and also plays the role of Black's comic foil in most of their comedy...
from Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
) hide "World Domination brand 'Erotic' Sleeping Powder" in the coffee-maker, which ends up incapacitating everyone who drinks the coffee. The band, having avoided the coffee (choosing liquor instead), finds themselves forced to land the plane. For the video, each band member (Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, Nate Mendel
Nate Mendel
Nathan Gregor "Nate" Mendel is an American bassist for the bands Foo Fighters, The Jealous Sound, Sunny Day Real Estate, and The Fire Theft.-Biography:...
and Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
) portrays himself as well as several other roles. Also, as in the music video for "Monkey Wrench
Monkey Wrench (song)
"Monkey Wrench" is the first single released from the second Foo Fighters album, The Colour and the Shape. Blistering lyrics chronicled the 1997 disintegration of singer/song writer Dave Grohl's four year marriage to Jennifer Youngblood...
", a Foo Fighters song is played as Muzak
Muzak
Muzak Holdings LLC is a company based in metro Fort Mill, South Carolina, United States, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1934, Muzak Holdings is best known for distribution of background music to retail stores and other companies....
in the beginning, this time with "Everlong
Everlong
"Everlong" is the second single released from the Foo Fighters' second album The Colour and the Shape, released in 1997. The song was conceived when Dave Grohl returned home to Washington, DC following the initial recording sessions for the album...
" from The Colour and the Shape
The Colour and the Shape
-Track information:DollGrohl stated that is "basically a song about being afraid to enter into something you're not prepared for."Monkey WrenchGrohl stated that it was "a song about realising that you are the source of all of the problems in a relationship and you love the other person so much, you...
. The premise of smuggling drugs in airplane coffee is nearly identical to an actual smuggling operation that was uncovered in 1997.
The video was filmed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in a cabin crew training airplane. The video won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video
Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video
The Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to performers, directors, and producers of quality short form music videos...
.
Track listing
Disk 1- "Learn to Fly"
- "Iron and Stone" (The ObsessedThe ObsessedThe Obsessed is a doom metal band from Maryland led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich, who also fronted Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, The Hidden Hand and W.I.N.O.. Formed in 1976, they first split up in 1986 when Wino Saint Vitus, but reformed four years later...
cover) - "Have a CigarHave a Cigar"Have a Cigar" is the third track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. It follows "Welcome to the Machine" and on the original LP opened side two...
" (Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
cover)
Disk 2
- "Learn to Fly"
- "Make a Bet"
- "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover)
Chart positions
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
36 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
13 |
| Canadian RPM Rock Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart Mega Top 50 The Mega Top 50 is a Dutch music chart, originally started on May 23, 1969 as the Hilversum 3 Top 30. Throughout the years, the chart has had several names and lengths:*1969 - 1974: Hilversum 3 Top 30... |
72 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Eurochart Hot 100 Singles The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,... |
65 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
23 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
52 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
19 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 15 |
Notes
- * Billboard
' s Album & Song Chart History for Foo Fighters shows the peak for Learn to Fly as #13. However, the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart which ran in the March 4, 2000, issue of Billboard magazineBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, the song's final appearance on the chart (at #50), lists the peak of the song as #19. (Learn to Fly reached #19 on January 22, 2000.)