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{{short description|1999 single by Foo Fighters}}
{{other uses|Learning to fly (disambiguation)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox single
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
|Name = Learn to Fly
{{Use American English|date=June 2012}}
|Cover = LearnToFly1.jpg
{{Infobox song
|Artist = ]
|from Album = ] | name = Learn to Fly
|Released = September 18, 1999 | cover = LearnToFly1.jpg
|Format = ] | alt =
|Recorded = 1999 | border = yes
| type = single
|Genre = ], ]
|Length = 3:55 | artist = ]
|Label = Roswell/] | album = ]
|Producer = | B-side =
* "Iron and Stone"
|Certification = Gold <small>(])</small><ref>. RIAA.com.</ref><br>](CAN)<ref name="CRIAcertifications">{{cite web |url=http://www.cria.ca/gold/0110_g.php|title=Gold & Platinum Certification – January 2010 |publisher=] |accessdate=2011-02-22 }}</ref> </small>
* "]"
|Last single = "]"<br>(1998)
* "Make a Bet"
|This single = "'''Learn to Fly'''"<br>(1999)
| released = October 1999
|Next single = "]"<br>(2000)
| recorded = Spring 1999
|Misc = {{Extra album cover
| studio = {{unbulleted list|Studio 606 (Virginia)|] (Los Angeles)}}
|Upper caption = Alternative cover
|Type = Single | genre =
* ]
|Cover = LearnToFly2.jpg
* ]<ref name="RS 100 2023">{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|date= December 1, 2023|title= The 100 Best Songs of 2023|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-2023-1234879541/|magazine=]|quote= ...the sunny power-pop-adjacent feel of earlier Foo Fighters tracks like “Learn to Fly"...}}</ref>
|Lower caption = (CD2)
| length = 3:56
}}
| label =
* ]
* ]
| writer =
* ]
* ]
* ]
| producer =
* ]
* Foo Fighters
| chronology = ]
| prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|1VQ_3sBZEm0|"Learn to Fly"}}}}
}} }}

"'''Learn to Fly'''" is the first single from the ]' third album '']''. 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 ] #1 song on the ], beating their single "]"'s previous peak of #2. Reaching #19, it is also the band's second highest charting single on the ], as well as becoming their first Top 40 single, while being their highest charting on the ] chart along with the 1996 hit "]", reaching #13.
"'''Learn to Fly'''" is a song by American ] band ]. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album '']'' (1999) in October 1999. It was the band's first song to enter the '']'' ], as well as their second-highest-charting song on the Hot 100, peaking at number 19. It also peaked within the top 40 in Australia, Canada, Hungary, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and the United Kingdom. The song's music video won ] award at the ] in 2001.

==Release and reception==
"Learn to Fly" was originally released as a promo-only single.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=learn+to+fly&pg=PA44 | title=Billboard | date=October 16, 1999 }}</ref> It was officially released as a two-disc CD set in the UK and Australia, as well as in Europe, and promotional singles were also released in other countries such as the US for radio play.

In the US, it was the band's first appearance on the ], charting at number 19,<ref name="Hot100"> billboard.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.</ref> and was the band's first number one on the ''Billboard'' ] chart.<ref name="ModernRock"> billboard.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.</ref>

It is also their highest-charting on the ] chart, along with the 1996 hit "]", reaching number 13.<ref> billboard.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.</ref>

The song set the record for most weeks (13) at number one on the Canadian rock radio charts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Foo Fighters set Cdn. record|url=http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicArtistsF/foo.html|last=Cantin|first=Paul|date=January 13, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819064154/http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicArtistsF/foo.html|access-date=May 9, 2020|archive-date=2000-08-19}}</ref>


==Music video== ==Music video==
The music video for the song was directed by ] and won the ] for ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/21/grammy.winners/|title=43rd Annual Grammy Awards|date=February 21, 2001|access-date=January 19, 2021|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063452/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/21/grammy.winners/|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
The music video for the song takes place on an airplane, parodying the movie '']''. Two airline mechanics (played by ] and ] from ]) smuggle and hide their narcotic known as "World Domination brand 'Erotic' Sleeping Powder"<ref>http://www.foofighters.com/faq.php?id=06.04#goto Foo Fighters FAQ. Accessed December 27, 2006</ref> in the coffee-maker. This 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 (], ] and ]) portrays himself as well as several other roles, including an FBI agent who arrests the two mechanics. Also, as in the music video for "]", a Foo Fighters song is played as ] in the beginning, this time with "]" from '']''. The premise of smuggling drugs in airplane coffee is nearly identical to an actual smuggling operation that was uncovered in 1997.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/25/airline.drug.sting.06/ | work=CNN | title=Smuggling sting nabs 55 from airline, contractor}}</ref>


It takes place on a commercial airliner, parodying the movie '']'', and by extension, the films '']'' and its sequel '']'', interspersed with a mock concert footage of the band shown as an in-flight movie. The background elevator music is ]'s version of "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/foo-fighters-learn-to-fly-video-analysed-in-really-minute-detail/|title=Foo Fighters' Learn To Fly Video Analysed In Really Minute Detail|date=January 26, 2019 |publisher=Kerrang!}}</ref>
The video was filmed in ], ] in a cabin crew training airplane. The video won the 2001 ].{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}


Two airline cabin cleaners (played by ] and ] from ]) smuggle and hide their narcotics, labelled "World Domination brand 'Erotic' Sleeping Powder",<ref>{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> in the coffee-maker. The flight attendants do not notice the narcotics when they use the coffee-maker, and everyone who drinks the resulting coffee becomes incapacitated. The take-off sequence, in addition to the crew members hiding ulterior criminal motives, are a near shot-by-shot homage to the film ''Airport '77''.
==Track listing==
;Disc 1
# "Learn to Fly"
# "Iron and Stone" (] cover)
# "]" (] cover)


The band, having avoided the coffee (choosing liquor instead), mirroring ]'s role in ''Airport 1975'', find themselves ]. For the video, each band member (], ], and ]) portrays himself as well as several other roles, including Hawkins as an attractive flight attendant and Grohl as an FBI agent who arrests the two cabin cleaners when they attempt to smuggle more of their narcotics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kerrang.com/foo-fighters-learn-to-fly-video-analysed-in-really-minute-detail | title=Foo Fighters' Learn to Fly Video Analysed in Really Minute Detail | date=January 26, 2019 }}</ref>
;Disc 2
# "Learn to Fly"
# "Make a Bet"
# "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover)


==2015 tribute video==
==Personnel==
On July 30, 2015, a video was published on ] of 1,000 Italian musicians in ], all playing and singing the song in unison, followed by a plea for the Foo Fighters to come play a concert in Cesena.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rudgard |first=Olivia |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/viral-video/11773815/1000-musicians-play-Foo-Fighters-song.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801210232/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/viral-video/11773815/1000-musicians-play-Foo-Fighters-song.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 1, 2015 |title=Video: 1,000 musicians play Foo Fighters song |publisher=Telegraph |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Nme.Com |url=http://www.nme.com/news/foo-fighters/87256 |title=NME News Foo Fighters to play Italy gig after video of 1,000 fans covering 'Learn To Fly' goes viral |date=July 31, 2015 |publisher=Nme.Com |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/1000-musicians-play-foo-fighters-song-to-persuade-concert/ |title=1,000 musicians play Foo Fighters song to persuade concert - Videos |publisher=CBS News |access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> By August 16, it had gained more than 33 million views.<ref>{{YouTube|JozAmXo2bDE}}</ref>
*] - vocals, guitar
*] - drums
*] - bass


On July 31, Dave Grohl responded, in Italian, thanking the makers for "the beautiful video" and adding "Thank you so much. We're coming, I swear. We'll see each other soon."<ref>{{YouTube|qD35ASXHmsU}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Dave Grohl |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/33742843/weve-translated-dave-grohls-italian-message-to-fans-in-cesena |title=We've translated Dave Grohl's Italian message to fans in Cesena - BBC Newsbeat |work=BBC News |date=July 31, 2015 |access-date=August 9, 2015}}</ref> On November 3, 2015, in response, Foo Fighters performed a twenty-seven-song concert in Cesena for approximately 3,000 people, starting their set with "Learn to Fly".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/05/arts/foo-fighters-recruited-by-viral-video-play-unplanned-concert-in-italy.html?_r=0 |title=Foo Fighters, Recruited by Viral Video, Play Unplanned Concert in Italy|publisher=NY Times |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref>
==Chart positions==

{| class="wikitable"
The group assembled for the stunt have performed subsequently under the name ], and have been described as the "biggest band in the world."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/italys-rockin1000-fabio-zaffagnini-on-how-he-formed-the-biggest-band-in-the-world|title=The Biggest Band In The World – Italy's Rockin'1000 Founder Fabio Zaffagnini On Foo Fighters, Viral Success And Their Mad Live Show|website=NME.COM|date=August 3, 2016|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-05}}</ref>
!Chart (1999)

!Peak<br>position
In August 2015, nearly 16 years after its initial release, the single entered the ] at number 69 and the ] at number 41.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oe3.orf.at/m/charts/stories/oe3austriatop40/|title=Ö3 Austria Top40: Single-Charts - Ö3 Charts}}</ref>

== Other versions ==
A live version recorded in ], Australia, on January 24, 2000, was released on the Australian "]" single and CD 1 of "]".

==Critical reception==
] of '']'' referred to the song as a "guilt-free power ballad". He noted that "on 'Learn to Fly', the big guitars and arching melody crush all quibbles. Some grunge romantics may even hear it as a touching little hymn to ".<ref name="rs">{{cite magazine|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/there-is-nothing-left-to-lose-19991111|title=There Is Nothing Left to Lose|magazine=]|date=November 11, 1999|access-date=October 24, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222014255/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/there-is-nothing-left-to-lose-19991111 |archive-date=December 22, 2014}}</ref>

In 2020, '']'' ranked the song number 11 on their list of the 20 greatest Foo Fighters songs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-foo-fighters-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Foo Fighters songs – ranked|first=Sam|last=Law|website=]|date=July 3, 2020|accessdate=March 28, 2022}}</ref> and in 2021, '']'' ranked the song number three on their list of the 10 greatest Foo Fighters songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-top-10-foo-fighters-songs/|title=The Top 10 Foo Fighters Songs|first=Jacob|last=Uitti|work=]|date=November 24, 2021|accessdate=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

==Track listings and formats==
* '''AUS / UK CD Single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Learn to Fly|others=Foo Fighters|year=1999|type=UK CD Single liner notes|publisher=Roswell Records|id=64173-2}}</ref><ref name="AUS">{{cite AV media notes|title=Learn to Fly|others=Foo Fighters|year=1999|type=AUS CD Single liner notes|publisher=Roswell Records|id=74321706622}}</ref>
# "Learn to Fly" &nbsp;– 3:58
# "Iron and Stone" (] cover) &nbsp;– 2:52
# "]" (] cover) &nbsp;– 3:58

* '''EU 7" Vinyl / EU CD 1 / UK Cassette'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Learn to Fly|others=Foo Fighters|year=1999|type=EU 7" Vinyl liner notes|publisher=RCA Records|id=FOO1}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Learn to Fly|others=Foo Fighters|year=1999|type=EU CD Single liner notes|publisher=BMG|id=74321706512}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Learn to Fly|others=Foo Fighters|year=1999|type=UK Cassette liner notes|publisher=RCA Records|id=74321713084}}</ref>
# "Learn to Fly" &nbsp;– 3:58
# "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover) &nbsp;– 3:58

* '''EU CD 2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Learn to Fly|others=Foo Fighters|year=1999|type=EU CD Single liner notes|publisher=Roswell Records|id=74321713102}}</ref>
# "Learn to Fly" &nbsp;– 3:58
# "Make a Bet" &nbsp;– 3:28
# "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover) &nbsp;– 3:58

==Credits and personnel==
* ] – lead vocals, guitar, drums on "Learn to Fly"<ref>Foo Fighters, "The Making of There Is Nothing Left to Lose", (RCA, 1999)</ref>
* ] – bass
* ] – drums (except "Learn to Fly"), lead vocals on "Have a Cigar"
* ] – guitar on "Have a Cigar"
* ] – composition, lyrics, producer, performer
* ] – producer, recording
* ] – mixing
* Ted Reiger – second engineer
* ] – mastering

Credits and personnel adapted from "Learn to Fly" CD single liner notes.<ref name="AUS"/>

==Charts==

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|- |-
!Chart (1999–2000)
|]<ref name="CHARTS.1">. australian-charts.com. Retrieved on December 01, 2012.</ref>
!Peak<br/>position
|align="center"|36
|- |-
{{single chart|Australia|36|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|Canadian '']'' ]
|align="center"|13
|- |-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|13|chartid=10026|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|Canadian ]
|align="center"|1
|- |-
{{single chart|Canadarock|1|chartid=9689|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|]<ref name="FOOFIGHTERSDUTCHTOP40">{{cite web| url=http://www.top40.nl/track.aspx?titel_id=3344&jaar=2012&maand=2&week=7| title=Foo Fighters Dutch top 40 Archive| author=Dutch Top 40| publisher=www.top40.nl| accessdate=28 February 2012}}</ref>
|align="center"|32
|- |-
{{single chart|Dutch40|32|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|]<ref name="CHARTS.1"/>
|align="center"|72
|- |-
{{single chart|Dutch100|72|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|]
|align="center"|65
|- |-
{{single chart|New Zealand|23|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|]<ref name="CHARTS.1"/>
|align="center"|23
|- |-
{{single chart|Scotland|15|date=19991024|rowheader=true|access-date=August 3, 2020}}
|]<ref name="CHARTS.1"/>
|align="center"|52
|- |-
{{single chart|Sweden|52|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|]
|align="center"|21
|- |-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|21|artist=Foo Fighters|artistid=27860|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2021}}
|US ]<ref name="LEARNTOFLY.BILLBOARD">{{cite web| url=http://www.billboard.com/#/song/foo-fighters/learn-to-fly/3465701| title=Learn To Fly Billboard Chart History| author=billboard.com| publisher=www.billboard.com| accessdate=01 December 2012}}</ref>
|align="center"|19
|- |-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|US ''Billboard'' ]<ref name="LEARNTOFLY.BILLBOARD"/>
|align="center"|1
|- |-
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|US ''Billboard'' ]
|align="center"|2
|- |-
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|2|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|US ''Billboard'' ]<ref name="LEARNTOFLY.BILLBOARD"/>
|-
|align="center"|15
{{single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|4|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|15|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|22|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
|} |}


{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{s-start}}
|-
{{succession box
!Chart (2015)
| before = "]" by ]
!Peak<br/>position
| title = ''Billboard'' ] ]
|-
| years = November 6, 1999
{{single chart|Austria|69|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
| after = "]" by ]
|-
}}
{{single chart|France|172|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
{{succession box
|-
| before = ] by ]
{{single chart|Germany|97|songid=19925|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2018}}
| title = Canadian ] Rock/Alternative 30 number-one single
|-
| years = November 15, 1999 – December 20, 1999<br/> January 17, 2000
{{single chart|Switzerland|41|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2016}}
| after = "]" by ]<br/> "Take a Picture" by Filter
|-
}}
{{single chart|UKrock|2|date=20150807|rowheader=true|access-date=April 16, 2017}}
{{s-end}}
|-
!scope="row"|US Rock Digital Songs ('']'')<ref> billboard.com. Retrieved February 2, 2016.</ref>
|14
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (2019)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|19|year=2019|week=33|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Learn to Fly|rowheader=true|access-date=August 23, 2019}}
|}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2000)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"| Brazil (])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2000/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>
|98
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2023|relyear=1999|access-date=16 November 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=2023|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|access-date=July 29, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=2010|certmonth=1|digital=true|access-date=April 8, 2013|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|access-date=April 12, 2022|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|certyear=2022|id=11199}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|access-date=May 21, 2018|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|certyear=2018|id=5527}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=single|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2020|access-date=July 21, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1999|certyear=2023|access-date=December 17, 2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=2021|access-date=March 29, 2021|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly|id=13116-569-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=2017|access-date=April 8, 2013|artist=Foo Fighters|title=Learn to Fly}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Formats(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}
|-
|Europe
|{{start date|1999|10|18|mf=y}}
|]
|{{hlist|]|]}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Foo+Fighters&titel=Learn+to+Fly&cat=s|title=Foo Fighters singles}}</ref>
|-
|United States
|{{start date|1999|11|02|mf=y}}
|]
|{{hlist|]|]}}
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-10-29.pdf|title=Alternative: Going for Adds|magazine=]|issue=1323|page=51|date=October 29, 1999}}</ref>
|}

==In popular culture==
"Learn to Fly" appears in the political drama television series '']'' episode ''Mr. Willis of Ohio'', in the 1999 sports documentary ''Fift'', in the 2002 animated comedy-drama television film '']'', in the 2002 romantic comedy-drama '']'' and the 2016 animated film '']''.


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{youtube|1VQ_3sBZEm0|"Learn to Fly" Official music video}} *{{YouTube|1VQ_3sBZEm0|"Learn to Fly" Official music video}}


{{Foo Fighters}} {{Foo Fighters}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Learn To Fly}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Learn To Fly}}
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Latest revision as of 21:54, 17 December 2024

1999 single by Foo Fighters For other uses, see Learn to Fly (disambiguation).

"Learn to Fly"
Single by Foo Fighters
from the album There Is Nothing Left to Lose
B-side
ReleasedOctober 1999
RecordedSpring 1999
Studio
Genre
Length3:56
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"Walking After You"
(1998) 		"Learn to Fly"
(1999) 		"Stacked Actors"
(2000)
Music video
"Learn to Fly" on YouTube

"Learn to Fly" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999) in October 1999. It was the band's first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, as well as their second-highest-charting song on the Hot 100, peaking at number 19. It also peaked within the top 40 in Australia, Canada, Hungary, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and the United Kingdom. The song's music video won Best Short Form Video award at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001.

Release and reception

"Learn to Fly" was originally released as a promo-only single. It was officially released as a two-disc CD set in the UK and Australia, as well as in Europe, and promotional singles were also released in other countries such as the US for radio play.

In the US, it was the band's first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at number 19, and was the band's first number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

It is also their highest-charting on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, along with the 1996 hit "Big Me", reaching number 13.

The song set the record for most weeks (13) at number one on the Canadian rock radio charts.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Jesse Peretz and won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 2001.

It takes place on a commercial airliner, parodying the movie Airplane!, and by extension, the films Airport 1975 and its sequel Airport '77, interspersed with a mock concert footage of the band shown as an in-flight movie. The background elevator music is The Moog Cookbook's version of "Everlong".

Two airline cabin cleaners (played by Jack Black and Kyle Gass from Tenacious D) smuggle and hide their narcotics, labelled "World Domination brand 'Erotic' Sleeping Powder", in the coffee-maker. The flight attendants do not notice the narcotics when they use the coffee-maker, and everyone who drinks the resulting coffee becomes incapacitated. The take-off sequence, in addition to the crew members hiding ulterior criminal motives, are a near shot-by-shot homage to the film Airport '77.

The band, having avoided the coffee (choosing liquor instead), mirroring Karen Black's role in Airport 1975, find 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, including Hawkins as an attractive flight attendant and Grohl as an FBI agent who arrests the two cabin cleaners when they attempt to smuggle more of their narcotics.

2015 tribute video

On July 30, 2015, a video was published on YouTube of 1,000 Italian musicians in Cesena, all playing and singing the song in unison, followed by a plea for the Foo Fighters to come play a concert in Cesena. By August 16, it had gained more than 33 million views.

On July 31, Dave Grohl responded, in Italian, thanking the makers for "the beautiful video" and adding "Thank you so much. We're coming, I swear. We'll see each other soon." On November 3, 2015, in response, Foo Fighters performed a twenty-seven-song concert in Cesena for approximately 3,000 people, starting their set with "Learn to Fly".

The group assembled for the stunt have performed subsequently under the name Rockin' 1000, and have been described as the "biggest band in the world."

In August 2015, nearly 16 years after its initial release, the single entered the Austrian Singles Chart at number 69 and the Swiss Singles Chart at number 41.

Other versions

A live version recorded in Sydney, Australia, on January 24, 2000, was released on the Australian "Generator" single and CD 1 of "Breakout".

Critical reception

Greg Kot of Rolling Stone referred to the song as a "guilt-free power ballad". He noted that "on 'Learn to Fly', the big guitars and arching melody crush all quibbles. Some grunge romantics may even hear it as a touching little hymn to ".

In 2020, Kerrang ranked the song number 11 on their list of the 20 greatest Foo Fighters songs, and in 2021, American Songwriter ranked the song number three on their list of the 10 greatest Foo Fighters songs.

Track listings and formats

  • AUS / UK CD Single
  1. "Learn to Fly"  – 3:58
  2. "Iron and Stone" (The Obsessed cover)  – 2:52
  3. "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover)  – 3:58
  • EU 7" Vinyl / EU CD 1 / UK Cassette
  1. "Learn to Fly"  – 3:58
  2. "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover)  – 3:58
  • EU CD 2
  1. "Learn to Fly"  – 3:58
  2. "Make a Bet"  – 3:28
  3. "Have a Cigar" (Pink Floyd cover)  – 3:58

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from "Learn to Fly" CD single liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 36
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 13
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM) 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 32
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 72
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 23
Scotland (OCC) 15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 52
UK Singles (OCC) 21
US Billboard Hot 100 19
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) 2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard) 4
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard) 15
US Pop Airplay (Billboard) 22
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 69
France (SNEP) 172
Germany (GfK) 97
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 41
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) 2
US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard) 14
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40) 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2000) Position
Brazil (Crowley) 98

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 4× Platinum 280,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) Platinum 60,000
Canada (Music Canada) Gold 20,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Gold 45,000
Italy (FIMI) Gold 25,000
Mexico (AMPROFON) Platinum 60,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) 2× Platinum 60,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE) Gold 30,000
United Kingdom (BPI) Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA) Platinum 1,000,000

Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Formats(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
Europe October 18, 1999 (1999-10-18) CD single
United States November 2, 1999 (1999-11-02) Contemporary hit radio

In popular culture

"Learn to Fly" appears in the political drama television series The West Wing episode Mr. Willis of Ohio, in the 1999 sports documentary Fift, in the 2002 animated comedy-drama television film Is It College Yet?, in the 2002 romantic comedy-drama Life or Something Like It and the 2016 animated film Rock Dog.

References

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  2. "Billboard". October 16, 1999.
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  7. "43rd Annual Grammy Awards". CNN. February 21, 2001. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
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  9. Foo Fighters FAQ. Accessed December 27, 2006
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  11. Rudgard, Olivia. "Video: 1,000 musicians play Foo Fighters song". Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
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  17. "Foo Fighters, Recruited by Viral Video, Play Unplanned Concert in Italy". NY Times. November 4, 2015.
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  25. Learn to Fly (EU 7" Vinyl liner notes). Foo Fighters. RCA Records. 1999. FOO1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  27. Learn to Fly (UK Cassette liner notes). Foo Fighters. RCA Records. 1999. 74321713084.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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