Learning to Fly (Christina Aguilera song)

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"Learning to Fly"
Single by Christina Aguilera
from the album PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Music from the Motion Picture)
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2023
Genrepop
Length2:56
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Jeremy Silver Abraham
Producer(s)
  • Aguilera
  • Jeremy Silver Abraha
  • Pinar Toprak
Christina Aguilera singles chronology
"No Es Que Te Extrañe"
(2022) 		"Learning to Fly"
(2023)
Music video
"Learning to Fly" on YouTube

"Learning to Fly" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from the soundtrack of the animated film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023). Written by Aguilera and Jeremy Silver Abraham, and produced by Aguilera, Silver Abraham and Pinar Toprak, the song was released on September 22, 2023, as the third single from the soundtrack.

The song received positive reviews. It was praised for its emotional message, Aguilera's vocals and its piano arrangement.[1] Music and film critics considered it a classic "tearjerker".[2]

Background[edit]

At the end of August 2023, Paramount Pictures and Spin Master Entertainment revealed that the soundtrack of the animated film Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie would feature songs by Christina Aguilera, Bryson Tiller, Mckenna Grace and Blackbear. The first single was "Learning to Fly". Aguilera wrote the song's lyrics and produced and wrote the track with Jeremy Abraham Silver. Pinar Toprak, with whom Aguilera previously collaborated on The Xperience residency in 2019, was also a co-producer.[3]

"Learning to Fly" is a pop music ballad played on the piano. The performer sings: "Sometimes you feel lonely - that's when you learn how to find strength within yourself. (...) You must learn to fall before you fly up. You have to leave the ground before you touch the sky.”[4]

"Learning to Fly" is Aguilera's first English-language song since her 2020 songs "Loyal Brave True" and "Reflection" from the Disney film Mulan. Cal Brunker, animation director of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, said of the soundtrack: "When approaching the subject of these songs, we always start with the artist, looking at it from the perspective of an emotional story. Take Christina Aguilera's song for example - there's a really intense moment about Skye's story in the film, and Aguilera gives a heartwarming display of her vocal skills."[5]

The premiere of the ballad "Learning to Fly" in streaming took place on September 22, 2023. Promotion of the single after its premiere was impossible due to the strike of the SAG-AFTRA organization (to which Aguilera belongs).[6]

Critical reception[edit]

The recording was positively assessed by music critics. A review in Variety called "Learning to Fly" a "tear-jerking ballad" that fits well with "breathtaking, cinematic animation".[7] The editor of That Grape Juice stated that with the ballad, Aguilera "sings an anthem of hope, inspiration and uplift".[8] Dom Fisher, writing for Geek Vibes Nation, appreciated the emotional message of the recording, stating that "it has much more impact than in theory it should".[9] The Toya'z World website hailed "Learning to Fly" as a power ballad whose performer "proves that she can still sing and sound beautiful." The review also praised the song for its "restrained, composed vocals" and "soaring" piano melody.[10] Kyle McGrath, a journalist for Lilithia, praised PAW Patrol 2 for its "great soundtrack", including Aguilera's song.[11]

Music video[edit]

On September 22, 2023, a promotional lyric video appeared online. It premiered on Nick Jr. on YouTube. The clip shows scenes from the animated film Paw Patrol 2.[12]

Personnel[edit]

  • Writing – Christina Aguilera, Jeremy Silver Abraham
  • Producing – Aguilera, Jeremy Silver Abraham, Pinar Toprak[13]
  • Mixing – Manny Marroquin
  • Orchestral arrangement – Pinar Toprak
  • A&R – Nicelle Richards
  • Executive production – SALXCO[14]
  • Music supervision – Trygge Toven, Format Entertainment; co-author Shie Rozow

Charts[edit]

Chart (2023) Peak
position
Indonesia (IFPI) 32

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various September 22, 2023
RCA [15]
Germany
Italy
France

References[edit]

  1. ^ Saunders, Ashley (2023-09-26). ""Paw Patrol The Mighty Movie Review: A Family-Friendly Crowd-Pleaser"". With Ashley and Company. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  2. ^ Bache, Vaibhav (2023-09-18). ""Review of 'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie': a super powerful sequel"". Cocktail Booz. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  3. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (2023-08-29). "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Tunes Up with Tracks from Christina Aguilera, Bryson Tiller & More". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  4. ^ ""Christina Aguilera – Learning to Fly Lyrics"". Genius. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Cento, Salvatore (2023-09-07). ""Exclusive - PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Director and Producer Discuss Pups with Superpowers"". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  6. ^ ""Where does the actors' strike stand?"". The New York Times. 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. ^ Howard, Courtney (2023-09-18). ""'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Review: The Plucky Pups Get a Super-Powered Sequel"". Variety Magazine. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  8. ^ ""New Song: Christina Aguilera – 'Learning To Fly'"". That Grape Juice. 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  9. ^ Fisher, Dom (2023-09-27). ""'Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Review – Go Go Power Pups"". Geek Vibes Nation. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  10. ^ ""Christina Aguilera releases new power ballad 'Learning To Fly'"". Geek Vibes Nation. 2023-09-25. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  11. ^ McGrath, Kyle (2023-09-20). ""PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie – Film Review"". Lilithia. Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  12. ^ ""'Learning to Fly' (Official Lyric Video) PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie"". YouTube. September 22, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^ ""Christina Aguilera's Original Song 'Learning to Fly' from 'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Released"". Film Music Reporter. September 22, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Christina Aguilera "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie" Song Released". CinemaNerdz. September 23, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  15. ^ ""Learning to Fly – Single by Christina Aguilera"". Apple Music — Apple Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
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