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"
Why Are You So Mean to Me?
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she's already a nervous wreck,
I don't do it every day,
It doesn't hurt me anyway,
Why are you so mean to me?
you'll regret eventually,
you watch way too much TV,
I remember my first time,
I went home I cried alot,
I didn't think that I'd get caught,
I'll never be like you,
No matter what you do.
The lyrics to Nada Surf’s song “Why Are You So Mean to Me?” seem to be a response to an older, more dominant figure in the singer’s life. The line “you tell mum, I’ll break your neck” conveys a sense of fear and desperation in the singer’s voice, perhaps suggesting that the older figure has a certain level of control over the singer’s life. Additionally, the line “I remember my first time, I knew I had to cross the line” suggests that there was a point in the singer’s life where they had to make a difficult decision that went against this older figure’s wishes.
The chorus of the song, “Why are you so mean to me? You’ll regret eventually, You watch way too much TV” emphasizes the singer’s feelings of hurt and confusion towards this older figure, while also indicating that their behavior will eventually have consequences. The line “I’ll never be like you, no matter what you do” is a declaration of the singer’s individuality and resistance towards being controlled. Overall, the song explores themes of control, rebellion, and individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
You tell mum, I'll break your neck,
If you dare tell our mother, I will harm you physically
she's already a nervous wreck,
Mom is already anxious, so don't make things worse
I don't do it every day,
I don't behave like this all the time
It doesn't hurt me anyway,
Your actions don't affect me emotionally
Why are you so mean to me?
What's the reason behind your cruelty to me?
you'll regret eventually,
Someday, you'll feel remorse for your actions
you watch way too much TV,
Your obsession with television has negatively impacted you
I remember my first time,
I recollect the initial instance
I knew I had to cross the line,
I knew I had to go beyond the usual limits
I went home I cried alot,
Afterward, I returned home and wept excessively
I didn't think that I'd get caught,
I didn't anticipate getting caught
I'll never be like you,
I swear that I'll never resemble you
No matter what you do.
Regardless of what you do
Contributed by Elizabeth F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Danny Pound
VH wrote this song! I should know, I am the guy who wrote it.
Danny Pound
@Marcel Luz ❤️
Danny Pound
@Drew Ducote ❤️
Danny Pound
@Cathie Mills ❤️
Cathie Mills
Ik this is a 5 year old comment but thank you so much for your art 💜 every time I listen to posthumous I think, god why doesn’t everyone know how amazing this is?
Danny Pound
@Marcel Luz ❤️
Band of Freds
As I recall, Nada Surf never really wanted to put this on the Proximity Effect, the label insisted they record it. I think when they repressed the CD they took it off and included "silent fighting" and "spooky" instead.
Mr. E Ryder
Fuck yeah, Goodness bless you, Danny Pound.
Danny Pound
They did not want to record this tune, no. An Elektra A&R chap wanted this song, payed us for it, and decided that it was to be Nada Surf's next big hit. Funnily enough, I met Matthew Caws in NYC in 2000. We laughed about it. I like their version!
spacin jason
The original is written by virtuous humor from Kansas they were the best band in the world,miss those guys