The band is best known for the song "Popular", released as a single from their aformentioned debut. The song reached #11 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart and propelled the album itself to #63 on the Billboard 200. Each of the verses in "Popular" are extracted from the 1964 guide 'Penny's Guide to Teen-Age Charm and Popularity', a work by former teen television actress Gloria Winters, and the lyrics are sarcastically spoken, with a calm, deadpan voice used initially that gradually builds Kinison-style in teen angst and rage.
The groups follow-up effort, an album titled 'The Proximity Effect', failed to garner as much attention due to music industry shenanigans. The band explains on their official website:
Nada Surf recorded The Proximity Effect in 1998 with Fred Maher (Luna, Lou Reed, Matthew Sweet). It was a mighty fine record. Elektra [now part of Atlantic], claiming they "didn’t hear a single," asked the band to go back in the studio to hunt for one. As this was months after they’d handed the record in, the band refused and were dropped. It’s pretty safe to say, though, that Elektra didn’t appear to be "listening" very hard. The Proximity Effect was released as scheduled in Europe. Critics loved it and fans bought it. Elektra still didn’t care, but the band still did. So after wrestling the rights back, Nada Surf released The Proximity Effect stateside in 2000 on their own label, MarDev Records, and toured accordingly...
After a three-year wait, the group released Let Go through Barsuk Records to positive reviews. The song "Inside of Love" received some airplay and even reached #73 in the United Kingdom, a feat which neither "Popular" nor the other two previously released singles from Let Go achieved. On the strength of the single, the album reached #31 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.
The band's fourth album, The Weight Is a Gift, was released in Germany on September 5, 2005, by City Slang Records, in Japan/Australia September 12th and in the US September 13th by Barsuk, and in the rest of Europe September 19th by V2/City Slang. It was produced by Chris Walla of the band Death Cab for Cutie, Louie Lino and Nada Surf. The album's lead single is "Always Love."
In 2008, Lucky was released. In 2010 the band returned to the scene triumphantly with the cover-album If I Had a Hi-Fi, revealing a diversity in source material whilst re-moulding it into trademark Nada Surf songs.
The band announced a new record will be released in January, 2012 called " The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy." The first single is called "When I was Young" and is available free to download from the band's website. On Oct 24th, 2011, the song was also featured as an NPR "Song of the Day"
Blizzard of '77
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cars were just lumps on the snow
And then later
Tripping in 7-11
The shelves were stretching out of control
On a plane ride
The more it shakes
The more I have to let go
Still getting all mixed up
We're always doing damage control
But in the middle of the night I worry
It's blurry even without light
I know I have got a negative edge
That's why I sharpen all the others a lot
It's like flowers or ladybugs
Pretty weeds or red beetles with dots
(chorus)
I miss you more than I knew
(repeat)
The lyrics to Nada Surf's song "Blizzard of '77" paint a picture of anxiety and nostalgia. The first two lines set up the scene of a blizzard which has caused the cars to become buried under the snow. Later, when the singer is in a 7-11 store, they experience a similar feeling of things being out of control when they see the shelves stretching. Similarly, on a plane ride, the more turbulence there is, the more the singer must let go and relinquish control. The signals are still mixed up, and the singer feels as though they are constantly doing damage control.
However, the nostalgia comes in through the chorus where the lyrics reveal that the singer misses someone more than they knew they would. This longing and sadness are perhaps a manifestation of the anxiety they feel in the rest of the song. The final lines of the song are a metaphorical statement about the singer's self-awareness. They understand that they may have a negative edge or tendency, and therefore they make an effort to improve other aspects of themselves, like sharpening the other parts of a knife to make up for one that is dull. The concluding lines describe the beauty in imperfections, whether it be pretty weeds or beetle's with red dots.
Overall, "Blizzard of '77" captures the sensation of a person navigating their way through difficult times, accepting and controlling what they can, but ultimately admitting that some things are out of their hands.
Line by Line Meaning
In blizzard of '77
During the harsh winter storm of 1977
The cars were just lumps on the snow
The snow was so thick that it completely covered the cars, leaving them indistinguishable from the surrounding snowdrifts.
And then later
At a later time
Tripping in 7-11
Walking clumsily in the popular convenience store chain, 7-11
The shelves were stretching out of control
The constant swaying and movement caused by the individual walking creates an illusion that the shelves are stretching beyond their limits.
On a plane ride
During a flight on an airplane
The more it shakes
The more the plane experiences turbulence and shaking
The more I have to let go
The more the individual must trust the airplane's ability to withstand the shaking and turbulence and surrender control to the pilots.
Now the signals
Currently, the communication, both literal and metaphorical between people, places, or things, such as cell phone or radio signals.
Still getting all mixed up
The signals are still being scrambled, jumbled, or misinterpreted
We're always doing damage control
We're always trying to resolve issues or problems that occur as a result of the mixed-up signals.
But in the middle of the night I worry
However, late at night, when there are fewer distractions, I start to become anxious
It's blurry even without light
I'm unable to clearly see the future or the consequences of my actions, even in moments when everything seems clear around me.
I know I have got a negative edge
I recognize that I have a pessimistic attitude or outlook on life.
That's why I sharpen all the others a lot
This pessimistic attitude motivates me to sharpen my other skills and qualities to make up for my negativity.
It's like flowers or ladybugs
This analogy typically refers to the concept of beauty in unlikely places or in things that we usually take for granted.
Pretty weeds or red beetles with dots
The specific examples provided, weeds and beetles, usually considered unattractive, can be beautiful and remarkable if observed closely.
(Chorus)
Repeats the previous verse, emphasizing the intensity of how much the singer misses someone.
I miss you more than I knew
This verse reinforces the magnitude of how much the singer misses someone.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL PRIETO CASTRO LORCA, IRA ELLIOT, MATTHEW RORISON CAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alice BRULE-MORI
In blizzard of '77
The cars were just lumps on the snow
And then later
Tripping in 7-11
The shelves were stretching out of control
On a plane ride
The more it shakes
The more i have to let go
Now the signals
Still getting all mixed up
We're always doing damage control
But in the middle of the night i worry
It's blurry even without light
I know i have got a negative edge
That's why i sharpen all the others a lot
It's like flowers or ladybugs
Pretty weeds or red beetles with dots
[chorus]
I miss you more than i knew
[repeat]
<3
PJ Bourke Trapp
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
In the blizzard of ’77, the cars were just lumps on the snow
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
And then later, tripping in 7-11, the shelves were stretching out of control
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
On a plane ride the more it shakes, the more I have to let go
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
Now the signals getting all mixed up, we’re always doing damage control
Em D G
But in the middle of the night I worry, it’s blurry even without light
G/F# Em D G G/F# Em D
But in the middle of the night I worry, it’s blurry even without light
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
I know I have got a negative edge, that’s why I sharpen all the others a lot
Emadd9 Em Asus4 A G D
It’s like flowers or ladybugs, pretty weeds or red beetles with dots
Em D G
But in the middle of the night I worry, it’s blurry even without light
G/F# Em D G G/F# Em D
But in the middle of the night I worry, it’s blurry even without light… light… light
G G/F# Em D
light
G G/F# Em D
I miss you more than I knew
G G/F# Em D
I miss you more than I knew
G G/F# Em D G
I miss you more than I knew
Emadd9: 022002
Em# with b and c#high before going to Asus4 (with d high)
Ben Dimock
This is, no exaggeration, my favorite song of all time.
Robert Cipriani
I feel like they're a really underappreciated band.
jbsamakis
I get it
K W
This song is so beautiful. I thought it would have more listens
gabelogan56
I just randomly remembered this album when a friend asked for recommendations of 90's/early 00's music. I had forgotten how much a loved this whole album. So much beauty and memories came flooding back.
lou_sasoul
Anyone else get early Elliott Smith vibes from this? The rhythmic strumming and knotty chord progressions, the double tracked harmonized vocals. This could be a tribute to St. Ides Heaven: MJIXDOVRtVk
Alice BRULE-MORI
In blizzard of '77
The cars were just lumps on the snow
And then later
Tripping in 7-11
The shelves were stretching out of control
On a plane ride
The more it shakes
The more i have to let go
Now the signals
Still getting all mixed up
We're always doing damage control
But in the middle of the night i worry
It's blurry even without light
I know i have got a negative edge
That's why i sharpen all the others a lot
It's like flowers or ladybugs
Pretty weeds or red beetles with dots
[chorus]
I miss you more than i knew
[repeat]
<3
J.L. Smith
yep. those are the lyrics. good job.
syfenx
This song is amazing for my mood today, I really needed it, I just wish the song was longer, I think I could listen to it forever.
mayanroses 1
Masterpiece.