The "Learning to Fly" battle: Pink Floyd vs Tom Petty

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Which piece of MOR classic rock burnout inoffensiveness do you prefer? Why?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 6 November 2004 17:51 (twenty years ago)

I played Petty's "Learning to Fly" in my high school garage band, so it wins for sentiment.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 6 November 2004 17:55 (twenty years ago)

The PF one had no reason to exist, just four minutes of life sucked out of anywhere it played. Like didn't anyone during the whole writing->recording->production process stop at any point and say "Gee, this is pointless. Why continue?" (Except for $$$) Maybe they thought that piddly repeated tritone "hook" made it like "Purple Haze". Petty's is nice drivin'-music stuff like all his other things.

― dave q, Saturday, 6 November 2004 17:58 (twenty years ago)

also "Just an earthbound misfit, I" = worst lyric/phrasing ever, especially when it drops to that belching "I". Butthole Surfers "Lady Sniff" did it better

― dave q, Saturday, 6 November 2004 18:01 (twenty years ago)

Ha ha ha, yes, Dave...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Saturday, 6 November 2004 19:53 (twenty years ago)

As lumpen and lifeless the `Floyd track is, it's invariably light years better than anything Tom Petty has ever done (i can't remember what his "Learning to Fly" sounds like, though).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 6 November 2004 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Can't we include Buffalo Springfield's/Neil Young's "Expecting to Fly" so there'll be a clear winner?

― the apex of nadirs (Rock Hardy), Sunday, 7 November 2004 01:52 (twenty years ago)

"Learn to Fly" by Foo Fighters is better than both, but within the limitations I agree that PF has the better tune here. Although I think Alex is nuts. Hell, everything on "Damn the Torpedoes!" alone is better than everything on "A Momentary Lapse of Reason."

― Phil Dennison (Phil D.), Sunday, 7 November 2004 14:41 (twenty years ago)

Although I think Alex is nuts. Hell, everything on "Damn the Torpedoes!" alone is better than everything on "A Momentary Lapse of Reason."

A Momentary Lapse of Reason is dire, yes, but c'mon...Tom Petty?

LISTENING TO TOM PETTY CAN GET YOU ABDUCTED AND SKINNED ALIVE, DIDN'T YOU SEE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:13 (twenty years ago)

I'll take the risk.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Are you a size 14?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:24 (twenty years ago)

I am a fan of Petty at least thru "Full Moon Fever" AND MAKE NO APOLOGIES SO THERE.

― Phil Dennison (Phil D.), Sunday, 7 November 2004 17:14 (twenty years ago)

I saw him a couple of years back at a rare club appearance (at Irving Plaza) with Bo Diddley opening up (my friend Mitch is a huge, huge Petty fan and apparently had no one else to go with). I stood by the bar for most of the show....terrifically bored, heroically drunk).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 November 2004 17:39 (twenty years ago)

Tom Petty by a landslide. Depending on the performance, it takes on a very sad song demeanor when you strip away the Jeff Lynne elements.

LEARNING TO FLY (Petty/Lynne)

Well I started out down a dirty road
I Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
And the town lit up, the world got still

(Chorus)
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing

Well the good ole days may not return
And the rocks might melt and the sea may burn

(Chorus)

Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out for God knows where
I guess I'll know when I get there

I'm learning to fly, around the clouds
But what goes up must come down

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:15 (twenty years ago)

Choosing Petty's "Learning To Fly" because of Jeff Lynne. :-)

Pink Floyd used to be better in the 70s...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:24 (twenty years ago)

Petty's "Learning to Fly" is the best thing he ever did, save for perhaps "I Won't Back Down" (granted, they sound fairly alike).

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 01:48 (twenty years ago)

Petty's is nice drivin'-music stuff like all his other things.

So true.

― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 04:22 (twenty years ago)

Petty's "Learning to Fly" is the best thing he ever did, save for perhaps "I Won't Back Down" (granted, they sound fairly alike).

Wasn't it "All The Wrong Reasons" that the band took to calling "Re-Fallin'" because it sounded too much like a rehash of "Free Fallin'"?

― Edward Bax, Tuesday, 9 November 2004 05:12 (twenty years ago)

Choosing Petty's "Learning To Fly" because of Jeff Lynne. :-)

New thread - Taking Sides: Jeff Lynne - So Much To Answer For

Oh, wait, there's only one side to take there...

― Edward Bax, Tuesday, 9 November 2004 05:14 (twenty years ago)

At least Gilmour sticks the riff from "Young Lust" onto the end of the live versions of his song.

― Edward Bax, Tuesday, 9 November 2004 05:39 (twenty years ago)

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