Jonas Brothers — Vacation Eyes
Julia Marcus
In these tumultuous times, I'm retreating to the warm embrace of comfort artists. So yeah, I've been listening to a lot of Jonas Brothers. And yes, I have been loudly singing along to this song every morning for the past month.
Diego Fasolis, Duilio Galfetti, I Barocchisti — Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in G Major, RV 307
Kendall Todd
I like to think I know Vivaldi’s body of work pretty well, but sometimes a piece like this one comes along and knocks my socks off. The only way I can really describe it is with the phrase “wild abandon” — it’s the kind of piece that makes me think Vivaldi must have had a great time writing and playing it. Just plain exciting to listen to, from start to finish.
Saja Boys — Your Idol
Edyn Mae Stevenson
I know I'm not the only one whose life has been completely derailed by the Netflix original KPOP Demon Hunters. I honestly can't remember the last time I had so much fun watching a new release. But if anything was going to get me excited about movies again, it was gonna be a K-pop girl group who has to defeat a delightfully evil boyband in order to save the world. Classic.
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa — Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet: Aubade
Brian McCreath
Last week’s broadcast of the Boston Symphony’s theatrical production of Romeo and Juliet at Tanglewood reminded me of my favorite part of Prokofiev’s ballet score. Nothing complicated. Just a couple of mandolins, a violin solo, a few woodwinds, and a little trumpet section setting down a bright, morning groove that can’t help but make you feel good.
US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps — Handel: Water Music
Greg Ferrisi
It drives my family crazy, but July's so full of spirit and hoopla, I can't help but turn to the fife and drums of the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Especially the drum features. And while I love marching the kids around the living room to classics like Yankee Doodle, it's incredible to think that musicians in the Revolutionary War might've been entertaining soldiers in camp with near-contemporary hits by the likes of Handel, too.
Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada, Cast — The Great Gatsby: A New Musical
Jamie Kmak
I've spent a good chunk of July in New York City where, thanks to rush/lottery tickets, I was able to see a whopping 10 Broadway shows in the span of two weeks. One of those shows was The Great Gatsby. Now mind you, I have two favorite music genres: '80s power ballads, and Broadway power ballads. I am a simple man, and that man is a gigantic sap. Cue the Act I closer.
This song has everything. Grandiose declaration of a love that persisted against all odds? Check. Eva Noblezada in the original Broadway cast recording? Check. Jeremy Jordan also in the original Broadway cast, and singing in a range I can actually kind of match?? Check, check, and check. Over the course of the song, I had moved as far forward in my seat as physically possible, with my hands and chin rested in starry-eyed anticipation and awe on the balcony railing in front of me. With a song like this, sometimes all you can say is "wow."
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