Learning to Fly (song)

Single infobox |
Name = Learning to Fly


‎ Caption = Cover of the 12" release
Artist = Pink Floyd
from Album = A Momentary Lapse of Reason
B-side = "Terminal Frost"
Released = September 15, 1987
Format = 7", 12", CD
Recorded = October 1986 - May 1987
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:22
Writer = David Gilmour, Anthony Moore, Bob Ezrin, Jon Carin
Label = EMI (Europe/UK)
Columbia Records (US)
Producer = Bob Ezrin, David Gilmour
Chart position =
*#1 (US Mainstream Rock Tracks)
*#70 (US Billboard Hot 100)
Last single = "Not Now John"
(1983)
This single = "Learning to Fly"
(1987)
Next single = "On the Turning Away"
(1987)Extra tracklisting
Album = A Momentary Lapse of Reason
Type = studio
prev_track = Signs of Life
prev_no = 1
this_track = Learning to Fly
track_no = 2
next_track = The Dogs of War
next_no = 3"Learning to Fly" is the second song on Pink Floyd's album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason". The first single released from the album, it reached #70 on the Billboard Chart and #1 on Mainstream Rock Tracks. Many fans and critics consider it Pink Floyd's best song after the departure of Roger Waters from the band.

Background

The song is written largely by David Gilmour. It describes Gilmour's thoughts on flying, for which he has a passion, although some listeners and musical commentators have interpreted it as a metaphor for beginning something new, experiencing a radical change of life, or, more specifically, Gilmour's feelings about striking out as the new leader of Pink Floyd after Roger Waters' departure. Gilmour confirmed the latter interpretation on the Pink Floyd 25th Anniversary Special in May of 1992. Also an avid pilot, drummer Nick Mason's voice can be heard around the middle of the song. "Learning to Fly" was included on Pink Floyd's greatest hits collection "".

The track was regularly performed live on the band's two post-Roger Waters tours, with touring guitarist Tim Renwick playing the song's guitar solos (although David Gilmour played the solos on the studio version of the track).

Music Video

The music video was filmed in Canada, 50 to 75 km west of the City of Calgary, Alberta during rehearsals for the band's 1987/88/89 tour directed by Storm Thorgerson. The video combined performances of the band with a Native American working in a field who then runs and jumps off a cliff to turn into an eagle. The original video also depicts a factory worker who turns into an aeroplane pilot as well as a child who breaks free from his mother and dives off a cliff into a deep river, swimming away. The video went to #9 on MTV's Video Countdown in November of 1987 and was the #60th best video of MTV's Top 100 Videos of 1987. The video also won the band its only Video Music Award for Best Conceptual Video in 1988.The red aircraft seen in the video is a somewhat rare Beechcraft Staggerwing.

Personnel

*David Gilmour - guitars, lead vocals
*Nick Mason - drums, vocalisations
*Richard Wright - keyboard
*Jon Carin - Keyboard
*Tony Levin - Bass
*Steve Forman - Percussion

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx3DtXyEqrE Original Music Video]