An American Songwriter feature highlights five one-hit wonders whose lyrics are more clever than their reputation as novelty or throwaway pop songs suggests. The piece pushes back on the idea that chart-topping "one-hit wonder" status equates to shallow songwriting, arguing several of these tracks contain sharp wordplay, social commentary or vivid imagery often overlooked by casual listeners.

The selected songs are Timbuk 3's "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" (1986), The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", New Radicals' "You Get What You Give", Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy", and EMF's "Unbelievable" (a US No. 1 in 1990). Each entry picks out specific lines, from New Radicals' pop-culture and political jabs to EMF's lyrics about contradictory behaviour hidden behind a catchy dance-rock beat, to make the case for hidden lyrical depth.