NRAF of Classical Music

Not Really A Fan of classical music. 

Which is different from saying I dislike it. Dislike would require effort, judgment, even a position. This is lighter than that. This is observation without allegiance.

Classical music exists with immense confidence. It doesn’t ask to be liked. It simply assumes its relevance and waits for you to catch up. That alone is admirable. Few things in modern life have that kind of patience.

I notice how classical music is often introduced like a responsibility rather than a pleasure. You should appreciate this. You’ll understand it one day. It’s good for you. No one says that about a three-minute pop song, and maybe that’s the point. Classical music was never designed to compete for attention. It expects time. Stillness. Chairs that don’t swivel.

When I hear it live, something interesting happens. I stop thinking about the music and start thinking about time itself. About how long humans have been repeating the same notes, trusting that meaning would survive centuries of silence between performances. That’s impressive. I respect the commitment.

But admiration is not fandom. I don’t queue it up for motivation. I don’t use it to feel understood. I don’t say “this piece changed my life,” even though I believe it has changed someone’s life, many times, over many lifetimes.

Classical music feels like a library you’re allowed to enter even if you don’t plan to read everything. You can walk the aisles, trace the spines, sense the weight of accumulated thought, and leave without checking anything out. No one chases you. No one minds.

So no, I’m not really a fan.I’m a respectful passerby.An occasional listener.A person who understands that some things don’t need my enthusiasm to remain important.

And that, oddly enough, might be the most classical response of all.

Not Really A Fan

NRAF