I’ve always appreciated the genius that it takes to compose classical music, but have never really grown to like and enjoy it unless it has a “tuneful component” to it. As I was searching the web on this subject, I happened across a post that addresses what the Post writer didn’t.
“Ditto on the "they don't understand it" remark, but also I think classical music itself is partly to blame. Jumping straight to the point, the average classical music piece is much longer, sprawling, intricate and requires more patience, and sometimes a forceful desire to understand it, before you can appreciate it. This is why it's so rewarding and beautiful once it sinks in. However, not everyone desires to commit to it, and unless there's some immediate attention catching melody a nonlistener likes...why should they care or be bothered by it? Sometimes a 4 minute song is precisely what the person/situation needs. It doesn't make one side any better or more enlightened than the other, and it would be foolish to think any joy we may extrapolate from a piece is any more than what they get out of their selection.
Am I really going to show my wife (who loves to sing along to music in the car) the Libretto to a Bach cantata when she asks, "How can you possibly enjoy that, it doesn't have anything for you to sing!" And no, I don't speak German.“