Nada Surf – Popular - Nada Surf – Popular

What this video is

Released in May 1996, 'Popular' arrived at the zenith of MTV's alternative rock dominance, when ironic, narrative-driven music videos were a primary vehicle for cultural commentary. The song's structure — spoken-word verses drawn verbatim from a 1964 teen-advice book satirizing high school social hierarchies — made it a sharp, postmodern artifact of mid-90s Gen-X disillusionment with mainstream teen culture. Its…

Why it matters

A defining text of mid-90s satirical alternative rock, 'Popular' by Nada Surf demonstrates the era's capacity to merge literary appropriation (Gloria Winters' 1964 advice book), spoken-word punk delivery, and MTV-ready visual storytelling. It occupies a rare space between post-grunge sincerity and…

The director

Jesse Peretz (born May 19, 1968, Cambridge, MA) is a Grammy Award-winning music video director, feature film director, and co-founding bassist of The Lemonheads. After departing The Lemonheads, he transitioned to directing music videos for acts including The…