"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, and produced by Silver, Aguilera, and Pinar Toprak, the song was released on September 22, 2023, as the third standalone single from the soundtrack.
| "Learning to Fly" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Christina Aguilera | ||||
| from the album Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie | ||||
| Released | September 22, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:56 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Christina Aguilera singles chronology | ||||
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| Lyric video | ||||
| "Learning to Fly" on YouTube | ||||
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 and release
editAt 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 a song by Aguilera.[3] Cal Brunker, director of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, noted that "When approaching the subject of [the soundtrack], 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."[4]
The song was released on September 22, 2023 although promotion was halted due to the 2023 SAG–AFTRA strike.[5]
Composition
editThe song was written by Jeremy Silver and Christina Aguilera.[3] The strings were arranged by Pinar Toprak, with whom Aguilera previously collaborated with, on her 2019 residency, The Xperience.[3]
Critical reception
editThe 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".[6] The editor of That Grape Juice stated that with the ballad, Aguilera "sings an anthem of hope, inspiration and uplift".[7] 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".[8] 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.[9] Kyle McGrath, a journalist for Lilithia, praised PAW Patrol 2 for its "great soundtrack", including Aguilera's song.[10] Writing for the LGBTQ-related website Queer.pl, Albert Nowicki noted that: "It's a song about how — in order to fly and fulfill our dreams — we must learn how to take our first fall. Without it, success is difficult to achieve. It is a song that honors the from-zero-to-hero trope, used in popular culture."[11]
Music video
editOn 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 – Jeremy Silver, Christina Aguilera
- Producing – Jeremy Silver, Christina Aguilera, 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
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | September 22, 2023 | RCA | [15] | |
| Germany | ||||
| Italy | ||||
| France |
References
edit- ^ 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 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ 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 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ ""Where does the actors' strike stand?"". The New York Times. 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ 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 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ ""New Song: Christina Aguilera – 'Learning To Fly'"". That Grape Juice. 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ Fisher, Dom (2023-09-27). ""'Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Review – Go Go Power Pups"". Geek Vibes Nation. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ ""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.
- ^ McGrath, Kyle (2023-09-20). ""PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie – Film Review"". Lilithia. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Nowicki, Albert (September 26, 2023). "EuroPride 2023: tęczowy koncert Christiny Aguilery na Malcie. Recenzja spektakularnego i queerowego widowiska" (in Polish). Queer.pl. Queermedia. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ ""'Learning to Fly' (Official Lyric Video) PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie"". YouTube. September 22, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ ""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.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie" Song Released". CinemaNerdz. September 23, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ ""Learning to Fly – Single by Christina Aguilera"". Apple Music — Apple Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2023.