[Squawk 8888]

A lot of young people treat music like wallpaper -- they don't actually listen to it

You've nailed it. Few people have any interest at all in the content, they just can't stand silence. The broadcast industry is geared to that, so most stations deliberately avoid playing anything that would make people stop and listen.

[ClearCase_guy]

In the movie "Monterey Pop", Janis Joplin -- largely unknown at the time -- sings a killer version of "Ball and Chain". At one point, the camera cuts to Cass Elliot in the audience, who is staring, with her mouth open, and then she just says, "Wow".

Music used to grab people and shake people. Today, as you say, having people stop and listen is NOT what it's all about.

[Apogee]

My kids quit sharing their music when I ask them what they like about a song. Apparently it is possible to really like a song without realizing it is about getting really drunk and laid by a strange guy, or killing your abusive step-father, (we won’t even mention some really racy lyrics that they seemed clueless about) among other things.
However, deconstructing the lyrics has proven a good way to get them to quit the current tripe for some new tripe.

There is some good music being produced now, I even heard some dance tune the other day that I enjoyed once I was able to hear the words.

Changing the subject of the post a bit - albums as a concept are trending out right now, but as a medium can not be beaten - no square sine waves for me, please.