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"
Enjoy The Silence
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence
The lyrics of Nada Surf's song "Enjoy the Silence" delve into the power of words and how sometimes, they are simply unnecessary. The opening lines, "Words like violence, break the silence, come crashing in, into my little world," highlight the idea that words can be harmful and invasive, much like violence. They can pierce through a person and cause pain, making it difficult to understand what others are trying to communicate. The phrase "Oh my little girl" suggests that the singer is addressing someone vulnerable and in need of protection.
As the song progresses, the singer's position on language and communication becomes clearer. They argue that words are often trivial and forgettable, despite the intense feelings they can inspire. Vows are made and broken, experiences are memorable, and pleasures and pains remain, regardless of words. In the chorus, the singer declares that everything they ever wanted or needed is "here in my arms," emphasizing the idea that actions and emotions speak louder than words. The final line, "Enjoy the silence," drives home this theme, suggesting that sometimes silence is preferable to empty, meaningless words.
Overall, Nada Surf's "Enjoy the Silence" is a poetic and introspective exploration of language and its role in communication and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Words like violence
Words can hurt like a physical attack
Break the silence
Speaking out can shatter a previously quiet or peaceful atmosphere
Come crashing in
Words can arrive suddenly and with great force, disrupting everything around them
Into my little world
The artist's personal space is invaded by these words
Painful to me
The words cause emotional pain for the artist
Pierce right through me
The impact of the words feels as if they penetrate the singer's very being
Can't you understand
The singer wishes the listener could empathize with the pain they feel
Oh my little girl
The artist is addressing someone (possibly a lover) with a term of endearment
All I ever wanted
The artist's desires are simple and focused
All I ever needed
The artist does not require complicated or elaborate things
Is here in my arms
The singer values intimacy and closeness
Words are very unnecessary
The artist believes that words often cannot convey what is truly important
They can only do harm
The singer believes that words can cause more harm than good
Vows are spoken
Promises are made through spoken words
To be broken
However, these promises are frequently not kept
Feelings are intense
Emotions can be strong and overwhelming
Words are trivial
In comparison to feelings, words seem insignificant
Pleasures remain
Good experiences and memories can continue to be enjoyed
So does the pain
Bad experiences and memories can continue to cause pain
Words are meaningless
The artist thinks that words are devoid of true meaning and value
And forgettable
Words are easily forgotten compared to significant experiences or emotions
Enjoy the silence
The artist is suggesting that they find peace and contentment in being quiet and simply feeling without the need for words
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Willimpossible24
Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence
@MatteoCesarotto
Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand?
Oh, my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do…
@deamondeathstone1
This is what i think what a cover should be. You take a song you love and you make it your own.
@ramindadmanesh3863
Couldn't agree more. You nailed it.
@baMbouZ
This deserves 1000x more views !
Nada Surf forever.
The kind of band that will never disappoints.
@falldownhard
LOVE IT! Perfectly 'Surfed' classic - it's so soothing to hear something melodic with pure, straight vocals. The guys look and sound great!
@eleanorbrant3190
This is such a good cover! I know I’m a good 10 years late but it was recommended on Spotify and I love it!
@mandodiao1
Great cover song and one of my favourite Nada Surf songs ever! I really like the positive atmosphere of this version of the song, makes me happy! :) Thank you Nada Surf!
@DnYDreamBig
It sounds like Nada Surf and not like a crappy Depeche Mode cover. I think I'll always love the original more but this is pretty awesome (: I love you Nada Surf.
@SydniPowell
THANK YOU for not ruining one of my favorite songs!! props!
@doitindy
This is a great version of the song.
@sharishelmadine465
Love love love this cover!!