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"
Whose Authority
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are shut like I'm blind
Turn to you and listening and tryin'
To be in your mind
There's a feeling that I get
When I look to the west
'Bout having all the answers
Still failing the test
Wolf packs and convoys and
Captains and men
Surprised in translation
World without end
Welcome back to real life
The picture is gone
Put a contract out on things that go on and on
How do you stay where
You most want to be?
Where'd you get the patience
Did it come easily?
ahhhhhh
Ahhhhhh
Ahhhhhh
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
There's none that I can see
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
No one speaks to me
On whose authority
I have none over me ...
Ahhhhhhh
All the tales with paper heroes
The ones who dyed the sun
And called it yellow
The ones who made you run
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
There's none that I can see
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
None that' speaks to me
On whose authority
I have none over me ...
Ahhhhhhh
The lyrics to Nada Surf's song Whose Authority are full of intriguing imagery and thought-provoking ideas. The opening lines, "I walk like you guide me, my eyes are shut like I'm blind, turn to you and listening and tryin' to be in your mind," suggest the singer's reliance on another person's authority in making decisions and navigating through life. The feeling of being lost and unsure is emphasized with the line, "There's a feeling that I get when I look to the west 'bout having all the answers still failing the test." The idea of being lost in translation and targeted by "wolf packs and convoys and captains and men" adds to the sense of confusion.
The chorus, "On whose authority, I have none over me, there's none that I can see, no one speaks to me," speaks to the singer's search for autonomy and the struggle to break free from the hold of societal norms and expectations. The final lines, "All the tales with paper heroes, the ones who dyed the sun and called it yellow, the ones who made you run," call attention to the idea of fabricated stories and the people who create them.
Overall, the lyrics to Whose Authority touch on themes of power dynamics, individuality, and the struggle for self-discovery in a world that often seeks to control and confine. The use of vivid and symbolic language helps to convey these complex ideas in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk like you guide me, my eyes
I follow your lead, blindly trusting you, even though I cannot see what lies ahead.
Are shut like I'm blind
I am not able to see any potential issues or roadblocks because I am relying solely on your guidance.
Turn to you and listening and tryin'
I am asking for your opinion and trying my best to understand where you are coming from.
To be in your mind
I want to know what you are thinking so that I can align my thoughts with yours.
There's a feeling that I get
There is a sensation that I experience
When I look to the west
When I think about the future.
'Bout having all the answers
I feel like I should know everything already.
Still failing the test
But I am still not succeeding.
Wolf packs and convoys and
Groups of people.
Captains and men
Leaders and followers.
Surprised in translation
Misunderstandings that occur when people try to communicate with each other.
World without end
These misunderstandings are continuous and never-ending.
Welcome back to real life
Welcome back to the world of reality outside of my idealistic view.
The picture is gone
The perfect view I once had of the world is gone.
Put a contract out on things that go on and on
I want to find a way to eliminate the unavoidable problems that never seem to end.
How do you stay where
How can you remain in a desirable position?
You most want to be?
The position you desire the most.
Where'd you get the patience
Where did you find the ability to remain patient through difficult situations?
Did it come easily?
Or was it a challenge to be patient?
All the tales with paper heroes
All of the fictional stories with characters who are not real.
The ones who dyed the sun
The ones who changed reality into something that is not true.
And called it yellow
Misrepresented the truth.
The ones who made you run
The ones who imposed their view on you and made you follow their lead.
On whose authority
Who is in charge here?
I have none over me
I am not under anyone's control.
There's none that I can see
I am not aware of any existing authority over me.
None that speaks to me
There is no one communicating with me as an authority figure.
Ahhhhhhh
Sigh of frustration.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@masterkillle
I walk like you guide me, my eyes
Are shut like I'm blind
Turn to you and listening and tryin'
To be in your mind
There's a feeling that I get
When I look to the west
'Bout having all the answers
Still failing the test
Wolf packs and convoys and
Captains and men
Surprised in translation
World without end
Welcome back to real life
The picture is gone
Put a contract out on things that go on and on
How do you stay where
You most want to be?
Where'd you get the patience
Did it come easily?
ahhhhhh
ahhhhhh
ahhhhhh
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
There's none that I can see
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
No one speaks to me
On whose authority
I have none over me ...
ahhhhhhh
All the tales with paper heroes
The ones who dyed the sun
And called it yellow
The ones who made you run
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
There's none that I can see
On whose authority
I have none over me
On whose authority
None that' speaks to me
On whose authority
I have none over me ...
ahhhhhhh
@chudd6125
Criminally underrated band
@Nathan-jq2xh
This album and this band is so aweseome, but this song is a great one to ride your bike to!
@IndependentPresident
Everytime I'm cycling through the city I have this great piece of music in my ear :)
@nodijenada
sameeee
@tetedepoulet8651
Came here to say this
@Bikewithlove
30 years in Philly - to work in Olde City, Hahnemann, Kelly Drive to Queen Lane, Drexel University, to my studio at Pafa, Penn’s Landing, the Franklin Institute, & the PMA.
@masterkillle
One of the Best Songs in my whole Life!! I Love to watch this Video! every time if i see and hear this, i want to get my bike and goe outside to cruise trough the city... <3 10/10.....
@tdsims1963
I love the fact that the band members make tiny cameos throughout the video. It's fun trying to spot them!
Good song. It and the video really captures the energy of NYC.
@OmarLuna1981
90's are GREAT!!! Spaniard heritage here... and likes nice song like this. Esta bárbaro!
@carolianasss
Nunca me canso de ver el video y escuchar la canciĂłn, una de mis canciones favoritas desde que saliĂł!!! Saludos :)