Stumped for this morning’s aural, we asked two Australian friends to recommend some hot hits from down under.

They first offered Silverchair, which our editor vetoed immediately. Not discouraged, the men both suggested the “tragic” Jason Donovan. Tragic doesn’t even begin to describe this hot mess, “Nothing Can Divide Us,” which we adore for its unabashed shittiness.

Did you know that spastic has two meanings?

It is not simply slang for an overkinetic, perhaps annoying person. It’s also a medical term for a “high degree of muscle tightness” and shares many characteristics with cerebral palsy. The boys from To My Boy fit both definitions.

This video for Billy Squier’s 1984 hit “Rock Me Tonite” may be the most unintentionally gay thing we’ve ever seen. There’s a torn t-shirt, loads of crotch shots, arm flailing and, yes, writhing, which looks as if it may have been inspired by Madonna.

Will the world ever have another Christopher Cross?

Who else could dream up “Ride Like The Wind” and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)?” No one. That’s why there’s only one Christopher Cross.
Continued…

Soul singer Otis Redding had a knack for starting slow and ending fast and hard - something we should all take to - um - heart after listening to this live version of “Try A Little Tenderness.”

The Republic Tigers are rapidly becoming one of our favorite American bands. Witness their aural powers via this video for “Buildings & Mountains,” which comes from their first full-length, Keep Color.

It’s been a while, but British quartet Ladytron has finally returned with a new album, Velocifero, their fourth. This here’s director Joseph Kahn’s cut of the group’s new video, “Ghosts.”

We must admit, this sounds like more of the same, but we liked their old shit, so that’s alright by us!

British musician Adem brings a ray of light to a dreadful Monday afternoon with “Launch Yourself,” which comes from his 2006 full-length, Love And Other Planets.

We totally forgot actor Joey Lawrence had a singing career until it came up on VH1’s Hottest Hotties Of The 90s, of which Lawrence was one.

And, surprisingly, he’s not that bad. In fact, he’s almost kind of good, if you’re into that sort of thing…

Judge for yourself by giving “Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix,” a circa 1993 jam.

A reader reminded us of how much ABC’s “The Look Of Love” tickles our aural fancy. We can’t believe it’s never crossed these blessed pages in the past.

Country music legend Eddy Arnold died yesterday at the age of 89. Here he is singing “The Richest Man In The World.”

Unsure of what to post this afternoon, we let the digital gods decide when we searched “pop music” on YouTube.

This is what we got: Japanese pop star Rebecca’s “Vanity Angel,” evidence that the Japan did the 80s better than any other nation.

Alright, we admit that “Ill Be Around” isn’t his best work, but we really wanted to hear some Cee-Lo this morning and not his work on Gnarls Barkley. Thus, a decision was made. Timbaland’s just an added bonus.

Had you told us that little Nick Cannon would one day marry Mariah Carey, we wouldn’t believe it. Reviewing this video for Gigolo, however, it’s all starting to make sense. They’re made for each other.

Bells and whistles are all well-and-good, but sometimes simplicity takes the cake, as evidenced in The Brunettes “B.A.B.Y.”

The track, from the twee-popsters’ 2007 release, Structure & Cosmetics, stands for Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth, just so you know…