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"
Blonde on Blonde
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
14th street is gonna drown
Everyone else rushing round
I've got blonde on blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got no time i want to lose
To people with something to prove
What can you do but let them talk
And make your way down the block
I've got blonde on blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got blonde on blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got blonde on blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
It's a lullaby
From wonder-woman's radio (2x)
It's a lullaby (6x)
The song "Blonde on Blonde" by Nada Surf describes the chaos and rush of a city street during a downpour. The lyrics paint a picture of people scrambling to find shelter and stay dry, except for the singer who has his own way of coping with the situation. He tunes in to his portable stereo and listens to Bob Dylan's album "Blonde on Blonde," which becomes a lullaby that soothes him and helps him tune out the noise and commotion around him. The reference to a "giant golden radio" is a nod to the notion that music can be a powerful and transformative force that can transport us to another place and time.
The song is also an ode to the power of music as a form of escapism - a way to block out negative thoughts and feelings and find solace in the beauty of lyrics and melodies. The singer specifically mentions that he has "no time to lose to people with something to prove," suggesting that he is trying to distance himself from the negative energy of those around him. Instead, he chooses to focus on his own inner world and immerse himself in the beauty of music.
This song is an example of Nada Surf's signature blend of indie rock, power pop, and alternative music that has made them a staple of the 90s alternative rock scene. The band is known for their introspective lyrics, catchy hooks, and soulful vocals. "Blonde on Blonde" is a standout track from their 2002 album "Let Go" and has become a fan favorite over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Cats and dogs are coming down
The weather is bad and it seems like chaos is taking over
14th street is gonna drown
The situation is so bad that even the street seems to be in danger of disappearing
Everyone else rushing round
Despite the chaos, people are still in a hurry to get somewhere
I've got no time i want to lose
The artist is not interested in wasting time or being bothered by people who try to prove something
To people with something to prove
The artist is referring to those individuals who need to prove something to feel accomplished
What can you do but let them talk
The singer is suggesting that sometimes it's best to ignore people who try to prove something and focus on your own path
And make your way down the block
The singer is suggesting that instead of worrying about what others are saying, one should focus on moving forward
I've got blonde on blonde
The artist is listening to a Bob Dylan album called 'Blonde on Blonde'
On my portable stereo
The artist is listening to the album on a mobile music player
It's a lullaby
The music is calming and soothing, like a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
The singer is imagining that the music is coming from a huge, golden radio
It's a lullaby
The music continues to be described as soothing and calming
From wonder-woman's radio (2x)
The singer is referring to the fictional character Wonder Woman, suggesting that the music is as powerful and magical as something she would have on her radio
It's a lullaby (6x)
The song ends with the repeated description of the music as soothing and calming, implying that it is helping the singer cope with the chaos of the outside world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROBERT D. SANDS JR., Robert D. Jr. Sands
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
João Gabriel
Nada Surf
Cats and dogs are coming down
14th street is gonna drown
Everyone else rushing around
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got no time I want to lose
To people with something to prove
What can you do but let them talk
And make your way down the block
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
It's a lullaby
From Wonder golden radio
It's a lullaby
From Wonder Woman's radio
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
ok then
this song is just too good, we don’t deserve it
P.J.
This is such a beautiful song. Melody is amazing.
eulesssucks
One of my all time favorite songs ever ❤️❤️
João Gabriel
Nada Surf
Cats and dogs are coming down
14th street is gonna drown
Everyone else rushing around
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got no time I want to lose
To people with something to prove
What can you do but let them talk
And make your way down the block
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
I've got Blonde on Blonde
On my portable stereo
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
It's a lullaby
From a giant golden radio
It's a lullaby
From Wonder golden radio
It's a lullaby
From Wonder Woman's radio
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
It's a lullaby
Asus Commenous
gabriel L merci
lorranzito Tosti
Muito bom ❤
S.N.
One of my all time favorites.
Mr Thurl3r
Perfeita a música! Conheci pelo filme Tempestade de Verão
isolationeitheror
This is my favorite nada surf song.
swanvaldez
such an underrated song