Populär
Nada Surf Lyrics


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Three important rules for breaking up
Don't put off breaking up when you know you want to
Prolonging the situation only makes it worse
Tell him honestly, simply, kindly, but firmly
Don't make a big production
Don't make up an elaborate story
This will help you avoid a big tear-jerking scene
If you want to date other people say so
Be prepared for the boy to feel hurt and rejected
Even if you've gone together for only a short time,
And haven't been too serious
There's still a feeling of rejection when someone says
She preferres the company of others to your exclusive company
But if you're honest, and direct
And avoid making a flowery emotional speech when you break the news
The boy will respect you for your frankness
And honestly he'll apeciate the kind of straightfoward manner in which you told him your decision
Unless he's a real jerk or a crybaby you will remain friends

I'm head of the class
I'm popular
I'm a quarterback
I'm popular

My mom says I'm a catch
I'm popular
I'm never last picked
I got a cheerleading chick

Being attractive is the most important thing there is
If you want to catch the biggest fish in your pond
You have to be as attractive as possible
Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean

Wash it at least every two weeks
Once every two weeks
And if you see Jonny football hero in the hall
Tell him he played a great game
Tell him you liked his article in the newspaper

I'm the party star
I'm popular
I got my own car
I'm popular

I'll never get caught
I'm popular
I make football bets
I'm a teacher's pet

I propose we support a one-month limit on going steady
I think it will keep people more able to deal with weird situations
And get to know more people
I think if you're ready to go out with Johnny
Now's the time to tell him about your one-month limit
He won't mind, he'll apreciate your fresh look on dating
And once you've dated someone else you can date him again
I'm sure he'll like did
Everyone will appreciate it
You're so novel, what a good idea
You can keep you time to yourself
You don't need date insurance
You can go out with whoever you want to
Every boy, every boy, in the whole world could be yours
If you'll just listen to my plan
The Teenage Guide To popularity

I'm head of the class
I'm popular
I'm a quarterback
I'm popular

My mom says I'm a catch
I'm popular
I'm never last picked
I got a cheerleading chick

I'm the party star
I'm popular
I've got my own car
I'm popular

I'll never get caught
I'm popular




I'm a teacher's pet
I make football bets

Overall Meaning

The song "Popular" by Nada Surf is a satirical take on the high school obsession with popularity culture. The song speaks to the advice that teenagers receive about dating, peer pressure, and conformity. The song is structured like an instructional guide for young high schoolers who want to become popular. The song seems to be mocking the idea that being popular is everything in high school and that it is brilliant to value your elegance over your true self.


The main theme of the song is about the art of breaking up with someone. The lyrics dwells on how not to make a tear-jerking scene and the right approach to put somebody down gently. This advice is aimed at females as the song speaks about how the boy will respect you for being frank and honest. The song’s satire comes in through the line “Being attractive is the most important thing there is. If you want to catch the biggest fish in your pond, you have to be as attractive as possible” – basically declaring that popularity should be everything.


The chorus of the song is catchy, hooky, and makes fun of those who put all their focus on the idea of achieving popularity. The song sends a message to youths who are seeking greater self-worth that they should be comfortable with themselves instead of trying to fit into society’s standards. Overall, the song "Popular" mocks the superficiality of popularity and the pressure teenagers face while navigating adolescence.


Line by Line Meaning

Three important rules for breaking up
There are certain guidelines one should follow when breaking up.


Don't put off breaking up when you know you want to
Don't delay breaking up if you've already made up your mind about it.


Prolonging the situation only makes it worse
Avoid dragging the process of breaking up as it'll do more harm than good.


Tell him honestly, simply, kindly, but firmly
Be frank and straightforward, but at the same time, try to be gentle while communicating your decision of breaking up.


Don't make a big production
Don't try to make the situation dramatic or over-the-top.


Don't make up an elaborate story
Avoid creating an implausible explanation to break up, which will only make things worse.


This will help you avoid a big tear-jerking scene
Following these guidelines is critical in avoiding an emotional and heartbreaking parting.


If you want to date other people say so
If you intend to date other people after breaking up, then it is better to convey that to your partner upfront.


Be prepared for the boy to feel hurt and rejected
Anticipate that your partner is likely to be hurt and feel rejected, no matter how early or late you are breaking up.


Even if you've gone together for only a short time,
Regardless of the duration of the relationship, breaking up can still hurt your partner.


And haven't been too serious
Even if you both have not been very serious about the relationship.


There's still a feeling of rejection when someone says
Ending a relationship will undoubtedly result in a feeling of rejection for your partner.


She prefers the company of others to your exclusive company
Hearing that you're happier without him around, and he means nothing more to you than anyone else will be tough.


But if you're honest, and direct
If you are open and straightforward while breaking up, it might be a bit easy for both of you.


And avoid making a flowery emotional speech when you break the news
Blanket statements or cliched speech might make the situation look worse than it is.


The boy will respect you for your frankness
Your partner will appreciate your sincerity and honesty if you are truthful and direct with him.


And honestly he'll appreciate the kind of straightforward manner in which you told him your decision
Your partner will respect you if you avoid sugar-coating the situation and give it to him straight.


Unless he's a real jerk or a crybaby you will remain friends
Breaking up does not always mean an end to the friendship unless your partner can't take it.


Being attractive is the most important thing there is
Being good looking is the most crucial factor to have a widespread appeal.


If you want to catch the biggest fish in your pond
If a person wants to attract the most desirable partner, they must consider their physical appearance.


You have to be as attractive as possible
Looking as good as possible is the key factor while looking for the perfect partner.


Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean
Pay attention to your hair hygiene as maintaining clean, and untangled hair can be an attractive trait.


Wash it at least every two weeks
Washing your hair every fortnight can ensure proper hygiene and cleanliness.


Once every two weeks
Washing your hair once every two weeks is a relatively long period to keep them clean but can be maintained if desired.


And if you see Jonny football hero in the hall
If an opportunity arises, and you spot someone you like, make sure you take that chance.


Tell him he played a great game
Saying something nice or complimenting a person to grab their attention can be helpful.


Tell him you liked his article in the newspaper
Another way to catch the attention of someone you're attracted to is to show interest in their hobbies or interests.


I propose we support a one-month limit on going steady
To prevent prolonged periods of stress and to foster positive experiences, it is better to set a time limit for relationships.


I think it will keep people more able to deal with weird situations
Having a time limit on relationships enables people to resist challenging situations and move on faster.


And get to know more people
Having a time limit on relationships can encourage people to meet new people and move on.


I think if you're ready to go out with Johnny
If someone is ready to start a relationship with another person.


Now's the time to tell him about your one-month limit
It is essential to communicate one's expectations about the relationship early on.


He won't mind, he'll appreciate your fresh look on dating
If a person is honest from the beginning of the relationship, his partner is likely to appreciate his open and straightforward approach.


And once you've dated someone else you can date him again
Having a time limit on relationships means that if it doesn't work with another person, one can always go back to the previous relationship.


I'm sure he'll like it
Communicating openly and straightforwardly about the relationship limit can save both parties from heartbreak in the long run.


Everyone will appreciate it
Having a time limit on relationships will be beneficial for all parties involved in the long run.


You're so novel, what a good idea
Having a time limit on relationships is a new idea and can be helpful for people looking for short-term and meaningful relationships.


You can keep you time to yourself
Having a time limit on relationships can allow people to have their own privacy and freedom.


You don't need date insurance
Keeping a time limit on a relationship can save people from possible emotional heartbreak or baggage down the line.


You can go out with whoever you want to
Having a time limit on a relationship can make one free from the obligation to date only one person.


Every boy, every boy, in the whole world could be yours
Having a time limit on a relationship can open up opportunities to meet new people and move on if necessary.


If you'll just listen to my plan
The songwriter is suggesting a new way of looking at relationships that can be helpful for both parties.


The Teenage Guide To popularity
The song is about teenagers and the ideas they draw upon to become popular.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Lorca

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@paramo.alejandra

Three important rules for breaking up
Don't put off breaking up when you know you want to
Prolonging the situation only makes it worse
Tell him honestly, simply, kindly, but firmly
Don't make a big production
Don't make up an elaborate story
This will help you avoid a big tear-jerking scene
If you want to date other people say so
Be prepared for the boy to feel hurt and rejected
Even if you've gone together for only a short time,
And haven't been too serious
There's still a feeling of rejection when someone says
She preferres the company of others to your exclusive company
But if you're honest, and direct
And avoid making a flowery emotional speech when you break the news
The boy will respect you for your frankness
And honestly he'll apeciate the kind of straightfoward manner in which you told him your decision
Unless he's a real jerk or a crybaby you will remain friends
I'm head of the class
I'm popular
I'm a quarterback
I'm popular
My mom says I'm a catch
I'm popular
I'm never last picked
I got a cheerleading chick
Being attractive is the most important thing there is
If you want to catch the biggest fish in your pond
You have to be as attractive as possible
Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean
Wash it at least every two weeks
Once every two weeks
And if you see Jonny football hero in the hall
Tell him he played a great game
Tell him you liked his article in the newspaper
I'm the party star
I'm popular
I got my own car
I'm popular
I'll never get caught
I'm popular
I make football bets
I'm a teacher's pet
I propose we support a one-month limit on going steady
I think it will keep people more able to deal with weird situations
And get to know more people
I think if you're ready to go out with Johnny
Now's the time to tell him about your one-month limit
He won't mind, he'll apreciate your fresh look on dating
And once you've dated someone else you can date him again
I'm sure he'll like did
Everyone will appreciate it
You're so novel, what a good idea
You can keep you time to yourself
You don't need date insurance
You can go out with whoever you want to
Every boy, every boy, in the whole world could be yours
If you'll just listen to my plan
The Teenage Guide To popularity
I'm head of the class
I'm popular
I'm a quarterback
I'm popular
My mom says I'm a catch
I'm popular
I'm never last picked
I got a cheerleading chick
I'm the party star
I'm popular
I've got my own car
I'm popular
I'll never get caught
I'm popular
I'm a teacher's pet
I make football bets



All comments from YouTube:

@nadasurf

Thanks everyone for watching / listening for 25 years. Hope you like the remastered HD video for “Popular”

@goanna83

Just so you know i searched this up instead of having the YT algorithms reccommend it to me 😅

@danielblaskowitz3412

Yesss Remastered! Thank you for doing so! Remaster all rest videos pleas! :)

@lisalovecat9969

is this song in a commercial right now or something, it just infiltrated my brain today :)

@samsungtv6287

great song. this is the song that really got me questioning that 6 million number and if it even happened at all

@michi4753

great song - great video

222 More Replies...

@j.r.hughes5136

People who went to High School in the late 90's understand every aspect of this song. Graduated in 00, and even 24 years later, this still resonates.

@ge2623

Anyone who went to high school ever understands this song.

@tiago2189

Went to high school in the early 2020's and i understand every aspect of this song

@terexdavis796

I'm so glad I grew up in the 90's. This classic song brings me pure nostalgia. 😎

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