Learning to Fly
Learning to Fly, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Cover: Redah
Male Vocalist
Learning to Fly-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,-Cover: Redah
By Robert Etoll Productions
I wanted to put a unique spin on this simple and fun song by Tom Petty, aiming to create a cover that no one else has thought of before. Using an ambient felt piano, acoustic guitars, mandolin, percussion, live cello by Jean Paul Barjon and ambient vocal pads, I set out to craft an ethereal soundscape for this reimagined version. I enlisted Redah for the lead vocals, and together we provided all the background harmonies, with his voice perfectly complementing this majestic adaptation.
Chris Barry did a fantastic job creating a captivating lyric video to showcase this reimagined cover.
Reimagined Covers
"Learning to Fly" (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) Cover for TV & Film | Robert Etoll Productions
"Learning to Fly" comes with those instantly familiar guitar riffs from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 1991, only this time imagined as a sincere male vocal cover, featuring artistry by male lead vocalist Redah. While the original song had a straightforward rock arrangement and embodied the heart of American heartland music. Our male cover song pulls all of that emotional recognition from the familiar Tom Petty sound and puts it into an ethereal soundscape, with ambient felt piano, acoustic guitars, mandolin, and live cello. Making it very unique in its expression.
Origin of the "Learning to Fly" Cover Song
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were founded in 1976 in Gainesville, Florida. They made a brand of rock music that became synonymous with American culture. They were always expanding the boundaries of rock, folk, and country music. Petty, with his songwriting based on passion, and the band, with inspired creativity and synergy, produced classics that have transcended the decades and generations. Petty's songs have been very flexible for re-imaginings in today's music culture.
"Learning to Fly" is off of the 1991 album, entitled Into the Great Wide Open, and the song is co-written by Petty and Jeff Lynne. The lyrics have a simple power, marrying the Heartbreakers' American vernacular to Lynne's clean, crisp production. This song's themes has extended meaning, hope, and resiliency and are universal. The construction of the song lends it to being covered by contemporary male vocalists. “Learning to Fly” became one of Tom Petty’s most successful of his music career. The song climbed to #28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remains an essential part of classic rock radio playlists.
“Learning to Fly” Cover: Perfect for Today's Medium
Robert Etoll Productions' Reimagined Covers project edits Tom Petty's song as an ambient, cinematic experience, with Redah's expressive male lead vocals. turning heartland rock into an ethereal sophistication by layering felt piano, acoustic guitar, mandolin, live cello by Jean Paul Barjon, and airy vocal pads, with background harmonies from Redah and Robert. The voices add warmth and depth and kept Petty's themes of transformation, while offering up a totally unique sonic perspective.
Commercial Use
Perfect for brands focusing on: growth, transformation and aspiration, like luxury travel brands, personal development, technology and automotive campaigns. The arrangement provides an emotional weight that suits storytelling-based advertising, which seeks personal connection from brand associations.
Film, TV & Digital Content
Perfect for inspirational montages, coming of age stories, notions of personal discovery, and great nostalgia. This makes it an effective soundtrack choice, across all streaming and broadcast content, including drama series and reflective cinematic moments.
Ready to license this transformational cover for your next project?
Robert Etoll Productions at covers@robertetollproductions.com to see how “Learning to Fly” can add inspiring depth and instant recognition to your commercial, film, or television production. Our catalog of professionally produced, heartfelt male vocal covers, offer sync-ready versions of songs, reimagined for today’s media.