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"
In the Mirror
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see what my hair is doing
Is it kind of skywalker
Or is it kind of stupid?
But that's not the real reason I'm looking
I need a reminder of what I'm doing
I need a reminder that I'm human
A snowstorm in the night
The windows open wide
Here comes reflected light
We can keep the covers up
It's like we never stop
But do dreams ever do damage to life?
When you need so much
You can't get it right
Who else is here today?
I'm alone but can't obey
Swim on my back at night
Near my clothes and a flashlight
I look in the mirror
Why am I complicated?
I'm trying to see clearer
The sun has faded
The lyrics to Nada Surf's song In the Mirror are a reflection on the human desire for self-awareness and the struggle to maintain a sense of humanity in an increasingly complicated world. The singer of the song looks in the mirror to examine his physical appearance, but this is not the real reason he is looking. Instead, he is searching for a reminder of his identity and purpose. In the face of overwhelming desires and dreams that may do damage to his life, he needs to remember that he is human and that he has limitations.
The second stanza of the song reflects on the singer's dreams and the potential dangers of allowing them to consume his life. He loves someone in his dreams like a "snowstorm in the night," but questions whether these dreams can do damage to his waking life. He also asks if it's possible to get what he needs in life when he desires so much but can't seem to get it right.
Overall, the lyrics capture the complexity of human emotion and the desire for self-understanding in an ever-changing world. Through examining the self, the singer hopes to find a sense of clarity and purpose in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I look in the mirror
The singer is looking at his reflection
To see what my hair is doing
He's checking how his hair looks like
Is it kind of skywalker
He's wondering if his hair looks stylish like Luke Skywalker from Star Wars
Or is it kind of stupid?
He's worried that his hair might look ridiculous
But that's not the real reason I'm looking
He clarifies that there's another reason he's checking himself out
I need a reminder of what I'm doing
The singer requires reassurance of his purpose or direction in life
I need a reminder that I'm human
He seeks proof that he's susceptible to errors or misfortune, showing that he's just like others
In my dreams I love you like
The singer expresses his deep affection to someone that only occurs in his imagination
A snowstorm in the night
His love is as strong and unpredictable as a snowstorm would be
The windows open wide
The setting is indoors, but they want an ambiance of fresh air
Here comes reflected light
The light is bouncing off the mirror or an object in the room
We can keep the covers up
They want to stay in bed the whole day
It's like we never stop
Their love is continuous and they don't want it to end even at dawn
But do dreams ever do damage to life?
The singer asks if having high fantasies will cause problems in real life situations
When you need so much
If a person desires something greatly
You can't get it right
It will be difficult to achieve it perfectly
Who else is here today?
He investigates who else is around him in the moment
I'm alone but can't obey
Although he's alone, he has trouble following the rules or authority figures
Swim on my back at night
He wishes to swim with his back at night, experiencing a serene rather than laborious moment
Near my clothes and a flashlight
Pieces of equipment he needs to swim are nearby him
I look in the mirror
The singer takes another look at himself in the mirror
Why am I complicated?
He wonders why he's overthinking all these things
I'm trying to see clearer
He makes an effort to understand his life and find clarity
The sun has faded
The day is ending and darkness is enveloping the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL PRIETO CASTRO LORCA, IRA ELLIOT, MATTHEW RORISON CAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucas-roblox5902
This song is so underrated.
@ispamforfood
Totally agree
@joseluisrodriguezvazquez6082
Sooo true!!
@b.s.eproductions6523
Amazing song
@matiaspiugcasaesmeralda5719
nice song
@goichihundredkuvkousky4860
Radio doble nueve 99.1FM lima-Perú