Unveiling the Story Behind Foo Fighters' "Learn to Fly": More Than Just a Pilot's Dream

"Learn to Fly" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters, released by Roswell and RCA Records in October 1999 as the lead single from their third studio album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999). The song became one of the band's most recognizable hits, achieving significant commercial success and critical acclaim. While many listeners have interpreted the lyrics as a metaphor for personal growth and seeking inspiration, the true story behind the song, as revealed by Dave Grohl himself, is surprisingly straightforward.

The Genesis of "Learn to Fly": A Simple Aspiration

Dave Grohl shared the inspiration behind the Foo Fighters' hit single "Learn to Fly" in a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the story behind the track was definitely a surprise to Clarkson. Clarkson told Grohl how inspiring his lyrics were and how moved she was by the "Learn to Fly" lyric, "Look to the sky to save me/Looking for a sign of life/Looking for something to help me burn out bright."

While Clarkson found a deep meaning in the song, Grohl, unfortunately, had to tell her that the story behind the song wasn't deep at all. "I don't want to burst your bubble… at the time I wanted to become a pilot! I wanted to learn to fly - I did! That's it," explains Grohl, much to the playful disappointment of Clarkson. "I'm sorry. It's what I'm talking about. I'm singing because I want to learn how to be a pilot. You're singing because, 'I'm so inspired by life' and whatever."

Despite the seemingly simple inspiration, "Learn to Fly" resonates with listeners on a deeper level, offering a message of hope and the pursuit of dreams, regardless of their scale.

Chart Success and Recognition

"Learn to Fly" marked a significant milestone for the Foo Fighters. It was the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #19 and remained their highest-charting song on the chart until "Best of You" peaked at number 18 in 2005.

Read also: "Walk": Inspiration and Rebirth

The song also achieved considerable success on other Billboard charts, including:

Alternative Airplay
Mainstream Rock
Adult Alternative Airplay
Adult Pop Songs
Pop Songs

Furthermore, "Learn to Fly" experienced international success, charting in various countries such as Australia, Canada, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. In Canada, it reached the top spot on the RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks chart.

The Hilarious Music Video: A Parody of Disaster Films

The music video for "Learn to Fly" is a comedic masterpiece that has contributed significantly to the song's popularity. Directed by Jesse Peretz, who was the original bass player in The Lemonheads, the video takes place on a commercial airliner, parodying the movie Airplane!, and by extension, the films Airport 1975 and its sequel Airport '77.

The video features Jack Black and his Tenacious D partner, Kyle Gass, as two airline cabin cleaners who mistakenly spike the coffee with a narcotic labeled "World Domination brand 'Erotic' Sleeping Powder". The flight attendants do not notice the narcotics when they use the coffee-maker, and everyone who drinks the resulting coffee becomes incapacitated. The band, having avoided the coffee (choosing liquor instead), mirroring Karen Black's role in Airport 1975, find themselves forced to land the plane.

The quirky electronic version of the Foo Fighters song "Everlong" playing at the beginning of the video when Tenacious D are preparing the airplane adds to the comedic effect. Grohl liked the idea of Muzak playing, but he needed a more flouncy instrumental for comic effect. He turned to the electronic duo The Moog Cookbook, who created the version of "Big Me" that plays when Grohl gets on the elevator in the "Monkey Wrench" video. The Moog Cookbook also created a funny cover of the song "Everlong" for the Tenacious D opening scene. According to Brian Kehew of The Moog Cookbook, they "did a full-length version but did not keep a copy. For some reason, they lost their version too, so no one seems to have the full version anymore… too bad!"

Cultural Impact and Appearances in Media

"Learn to Fly" has transcended its status as a hit song and become a cultural touchstone, appearing in various forms of media:

Political drama television series The West Wing (episode "Mr. Willis of Ohio")
Sports documentary Fift (1999)
Animated comedy-drama television film Is It College Yet? (2002)
Romantic comedy-drama Life or Something Like It (2002)
Animated film Rock Dog (2016)
Music video game Rock Band (2007)

A Song That Unites: The Cesena Performance

One of the most remarkable testaments to the song's enduring appeal is the performance in Cesena, Italy. On July 30, 2015, a video was published on YouTube of 1,000 drummers, vocalists, and guitarists in Cesena, Italy all playing and singing the song in unison. The performance was part of a campaign by fans in the Italian town to get The Foo Fighters to come and play a gig in the local area. Dave Grohl responded, in Italian, thanking the makers for "the beautiful video" and adding "Thank you so much. We're coming, I swear.". The plan worked as the clip went viral and Dave Grohl and his bandmates agreed to play a show in Cesena.

This event demonstrated the power of music to unite people and the profound impact that "Learn to Fly" has had on fans worldwide.

Grohl's Perspective: One of His Least Favorite Songs?

Despite its success and popularity, Dave Grohl has expressed a somewhat surprising sentiment about "Learn to Fly." According to Songfacts®, Dave Grohl explained: "It's about the search for some sort of inspiration, the search for signs of life that will make you feel alive. It's actually one of my least favorite songs on the record." This statement suggests that Grohl's personal connection to the song may differ from the way it is perceived by the public.

Collaborations and Performances: From Tenacious D to The Muppets

The Foo Fighters have collaborated with various artists and entities throughout their career, and "Learn to Fly" has been a part of some memorable performances:

Read also: Behind the Lyrics: Learn to Fly

Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D: As mentioned earlier, they starred in the "Learn to Fly" music video. Lead singer Dave Grohl appeared in Tenacious D's video for "Tribute" as the guitar-playing Devil.
The Muppets: Dave Grohl performed this song on the December 1, 2015 episode of The Muppets with Miss Piggy's band, Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem. Later, during the credits, Grohl and Animal competed in a drum-off. The Foo Fighter is well versed with the ways of the Muppets, having played "Animool" in the 2011 Muppets Movie.

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."

Release Details and Formats

"Learn to Fly" was released in various formats, including:

UK CD Single
AUS CD Single
EU 7" Vinyl
EU CD Single
UK Cassette

Track Listings

The track listings for the various releases of "Learn to Fly" included different B-sides and bonus tracks.

Certifications

"Learn to Fly" has received numerous certifications in recognition of its sales and popularity:

Australian Recording Industry Association: certified
Pro-Música Brasil: certified
Music Canada: certified
IFPI Danmark: certified
Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana: certified
Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas: certified
Radioscope (New Zealand): certified
El portal de Música (Spain): certified
British Phonographic Industry: certified
Recording Industry Association of America: certified

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