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"
Sleep
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glued to the sheets, sleep with the sheep all month long
Easy to please, hard to believe it's a tease
Stuck in a rut, don't give a fuck if we're us
Lie in a haze, hope it's a phase and not hate
You know that I know that you know that I know that you know
I want you to kiss me
I want you to kiss me
I try to open my eyes to the days going by
But the trash in everything it keeps me hypnotized
I'm hypnotized
I got the poison in me but it's amplified
Amplified
Step in my shoes, wait 'till you see the big flash now
Lie in a haze, hope it's a phase and not hate
Easy to please, hard to believe it's a tease
You know that I know that you know that I know that you know
I want you to kiss me
I want you to kiss me
I try to open my eyes to the days going by
But the trash in everything it keeps me hypnotized
I'm hypnotized
No TV
The lyrics of "Sleep" by Nada Surf depict the monotonous routine and the feeling of being trapped in a rut, unable to break free. The song begins with the plea of the singer to the listener to step into their shoes and witness the significant change that will happen in their lives. The line "wait 'till you see the big flash now" describes a feeling of anticipation for a change, which could be either positive or negative. The singer then talks about their prolonged sleep pattern, likening themselves to a sheep that just sleeps and wakes up every day. The lyrics "easy to please, hard to believe it's a tease" suggests that the singer finds it effortless to be content with the same mundane routine but cannot come to terms with the fact that it might never change. The phrase "stuck in a rut, don't give a f*ck if we're us" emphasizes that the singer doesn't care about the monotony of their life and is ready to accept it.
As the song progresses, the singer questions their state of mind and acknowledges being in a haze, hoping it's temporary and not a result of underlying hatred. The repeated line "you know that I know that you know that I know that you know" creates a sense of a mutual understanding between the singer and the listener. The phrase "I want you to kiss me" seems out of place in the context of the song as it doesn't seem to fit into the overall theme of being stuck in a rut. The line "I try to open my eyes to the days going by, but the trash in everything it keeps me hypnotized" suggests that the singer is unable to see beyond the negativity in their life, causing them to be caught in a cycle of routine.
Overall, "Sleep" by Nada Surf presents a bleak outlook on life, highlighting the monotony that can sometimes accompany the daily grind. The song's lyrics suggest a longing for change and a desire to break the cycle of routine, leading the listener to question their own daily habits and routines.
Line by Line Meaning
Step in my shoes, wait 'till you see the big flash now
Experience my life, and you'll know what a shock it is
Glued to the sheets, sleep with the sheep all month long
Lack of motivation to do anything new and exciting makes one dull enough to lead a monotonous life
Easy to please, hard to believe it's a tease
Being content with the simplest things does not necessarily mean one lacks ambition or enthusiasm
Stuck in a rut, don't give a fuck if we're us
Being stuck in a negative pattern can make one lose their sense of identity and purpose
Lie in a haze, hope it's a phase and not hate
Feeling lost and confused, hoping it's just a temporary phase rather than a permanent state of mind
You know that I know that you know that I know that you know
Assuming that the other person understands your situation and feelings without having a proper communication
I want you to kiss me
Expressing a desire for physical and emotional intimacy
I try to open my eyes to the days going by
Making an effort to be more aware of one's surroundings and life experiences
But the trash in everything it keeps me hypnotized
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to escape the negativity and distractions present in daily life
No TV
Rejecting the escape of television and other distractions as a solution and seeking something deeper and more meaningful
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL PRIETO CASTRO LORCA, IRA ELLIOT, MATTHEW RORISON CAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind