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"
Weightless
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And outside the daylight comes, the daylight goes and weightless
Affairs that weigh less
Always make no stairways just stairs, goes no where
Climbing from over stimulated states to hearing
Cold radio and licenses plates but don?t dream,
That is a dream it is what it seems
Behind every desire is another one waiting to be liberated when the first ones sated
Water skiing, the waters hot, the waters soft
You act nice, a black birthday card I threw it away
Correct life, is like eating steel or flying a plane
It?s too bright, it?s too bright
Outside just killing time and making noise
And outside the daylight comes, the daylight goes and weightless
Affairs that weigh less always make no stairways, just stairs, goes no where
Climbing from over stimulated states to hearing
Cold radio and licenses plates but don?t dream,
That is a dream it is what it seems
That is a dream it is what it seems
Why do black hats hide behind each others backs all the time?
Behind every desire is another one waiting to be liberated when the first ones sated
The lyrics to Nada Surf's song "Weightless" paints a picture of someone who is aimlessly wasting time and making noise, searching for something that feels weightless and unburdened. The chorus of the song revolves around this concept of "weightless affairs" -- the idea that things that weigh less are always better because they don't tie you down or hold you back. The verses then delve into the struggle between dreams and reality, and the tension between what we want versus what we need.
The first verse describes the main character as being outside, just killing time and making noise -- he's not really doing anything productive or meaningful. The daylight comes and goes without much fanfare, and the affairs he's involved in are trivial and weightless. He climbs from "overstimulated states" to the simple pleasure of hearing "cold radio and license plates" -- a moment of clarity amid the noise. Despite this, the chorus repeats the idea that these affairs only make "no stairways," leading nowhere.
The second verse then delves into the struggle between dreams and reality, describing how "correct life" feels like "eating steel or flying a plane" -- both difficult, uncomfortable, and not necessarily enjoyable experiences. The line "it's too bright" may refer to the harsh reality of the world not living up to our dreams and expectations. The last two lines of the song provide a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of desire -- behind every desire is another one waiting to be liberated when the first one is sated. It's a never-ending cycle of wanting and seeking without ever finding true fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside just killing time and making noise
Wasting time without any clear purpose and creating unnecessary noise
And outside the daylight comes, the daylight goes and weightless
Days come and go without any significant impact on one's life
Affairs that weigh less
Relationships that are not burdensome or difficult
Always make no stairways just stairs, goes no where
Such relationships do not lead to any progress or growth
Climbing from over stimulated states to hearing
Trying to reduce the effects of overstimulation and finding peace in silence
Cold radio and licenses plates but don't dream
Engaging with mundane tasks without any aspirations or ambition
That is a dream it is what it seems
The monotony of everyday life feels like a dream-like state
Behind every desire is another one waiting to be liberated when the first ones sated
Every fulfilled desire leads to the emergence of a new one
Water skiing, the waters hot, the waters soft
Engaging in leisure activities that provide temporary pleasure
You act nice, a black birthday card I threw it away
Putting on a facade of kindness, but discarding expressions of love and affection
Correct life, is like eating steel or flying a plane
Living up to societal standards and expectations can be difficult and exhausting
It's too bright, it's too bright
The harshness and intensity of reality can be overwhelming
Why do black hats hide behind each others backs all the time?
Questioning the motives and intentions of others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL PRIETO CASTRO LORCA, IRA ELLIOT, MATTHEW RORISON CAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lance Ashdown
I'm becoming more and more convinced that this is the best power pop band since Big Star.
abhiskek rachit
Thanks for commenting! True that!
Ships to Roam
I would concur. 100%
Julia H
I love this video, this song .. especially the lyrics "Weightless affairs that weigh less than air weighs" ♥
tommybass40
Love the dynamic in this song. This is great stuff. I love Lucky but Let Go remains my favorite.
bora bora
We need this in Spotify.
melissmeliss328
This is so awesome! I absolutely love. You are so talented.
kbfilms
Fantastic job you two!
mevcastaneda
awesome video. you really did justice to this song
hellohelicopterjp
this song never gets older