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About This Track
Popular is Nada Surf’s first radio single, released in June 1996. Each of the verses in Popular presents, in spoken word format, sarcastic advice to teens. Initially offered in a calm, deadpan voice, the lyrics gradually build Kinison-style in teen angst and rage.
The song reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and propelled the album to number 63 on the Billboard 200. Popular was also a big hit in France, reaching the Top 10 with a total chart run of 15 consecutive weeks in the French Top 50. It was also used in France in a TV commercial for the radio station Fun Radio, which was then the most influential radio station among teenagers.
The whole song, except for the chorus, is made of parts of a book, Penny’s Guide to Teen-Age Charm and Popularity (Gloria Winters, 1964, Prentice Hall), whose advice are taken sarcastically by Matthew Caws. Those parts are spoken, and not sung.
A rerecorded version from 2007 appears on the band’s MySpace.
Video and controversy
The video for this song, directed by Jesse Peretz, was shot at the Bayonne High School, with administration approval, and showed football players and cheerleaders, wearing the uniforms of the school, as well as the three members of the band, Matthew as a teacher, Daniel as a security guard, and Ira as the football coach.
The song reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and propelled the album to number 63 on the Billboard 200. Popular was also a big hit in France, reaching the Top 10 with a total chart run of 15 consecutive weeks in the French Top 50. It was also used in France in a TV commercial for the radio station Fun Radio, which was then the most influential radio station among teenagers.
The whole song, except for the chorus, is made of parts of a book, Penny’s Guide to Teen-Age Charm and Popularity (Gloria Winters, 1964, Prentice Hall), whose advice are taken sarcastically by Matthew Caws. Those parts are spoken, and not sung.
A rerecorded version from 2007 appears on the band’s MySpace.
Video and controversy
The video for this song, directed by Jesse Peretz, was shot at the Bayonne High School, with administration approval, and showed football players and cheerleaders, wearing the uniforms of the school, as well as the three members of the band, Matthew as a teacher, Daniel as a security guard, and Ira as the football coach.
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Albums featuring this track
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High/Low
Nada Surf
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Shouts
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REDZ_REVENGE wrote:
I PROPOSE A 3 MONTH LIMIT ON RELATIONSHIPS...EVERY BOY EVERY GIRL...THE TEENAGE GUIDE 2 POPULARITY!!!!
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puppyhand wrote:
My mom says I'm a catch.
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andyisdead wrote:
the only good new metal song
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BeNgEE4 wrote:
hike school sucks
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Ads26 wrote:
Don't need a lesson in relationships thanks...
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uncleogrimacey wrote:
This song is the reason Nada Surf got to put out more albums, people.
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zaynzaynzayn wrote:
i like nada surf. but i never really dug this song. i'm not in highschool.
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scarredforlyfe wrote:
this song blows so hard
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MinjoGreene wrote:
I'm not even in high school anymore and I still go through this kind of stuff.
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rustedempire wrote:
this was my jam in elementary
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expiry223 wrote:
I understand why some Nada Surf fans don't like this song, it stands out quite a bit in style and lyrically. However, it's a great song when you see it ironically I think. High school did suck, and Nada Surf would probably have made it a tiny bit better, but I found them long after that was done :)
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nikhanzn wrote:
very weezer'ish .. and still very good
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corky64 wrote:
Great....<3
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reaganyouth77 wrote:
yeah!! before industry ran it to shit!!!
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SOUNDARSENAL wrote:
AH yes, when alternative rock on the radio did NOT suck. Beck, Weezer, Butthole Surfers & Nada Surf . . .that is what I remember from this era. Love it.
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xiempiethps wrote:
90's classic
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Cut1977 wrote:
Johnny Footballhero...
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Agilipuppy wrote:
Wash your hair at least Once..every two weeks!
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funkydory89 wrote:
Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean, wash it at least every two weeks, once every two weeks!
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aquamouth wrote:
"prolonging the situation only makes it worse" that line is very inspirational to me.
Track Stats
584,693 Scrobbles
132,976 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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gweigion, xxamberjanexx, aku_478 and 1 other person loved Nada Surf – Popular. yesterday morning
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tristansolder added Popular to tristansolder’s library. Wednesday evening
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wess8866, mrshammett, guyvorst and 5 other people loved Nada Surf – Popular. Wednesday evening
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timhry added Popular to timhry’s library. Monday evening
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bonzsaw, callxmexcha0s, shpank420a and 13 other people loved Nada Surf – Popular. Monday morning
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Kristen01290 and lolofx added Nada Surf – Popular to their libraries. last week
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crazyfunster added Popular to their Loved Tracks. last week
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smcallister92 added Popular to smcallister92’s library. last week
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dprodger, dgafchrissy21, nuggiebudz and 2 other people loved Nada Surf – Popular. last week
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mikel_illo added Popular to mikel_illo’s library. last week
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