"I sneer at... people who sneer at entertainment for entertainment's sake. It must be uncomfortable riding that high horse, especially with that stick up your butt."
—Stephen King
Music is for listening, but not in the ostentatious sense Lost and Found means it.
"Music doesn't exists to fill the silence in your vapid suburban paradise while you wash your dishes," he says, in a diatribe typical of musical snobbery.
Well why the hell not?
Sure, some music has a message the artist feels is important. Sure, some people feel the need to interpret the message, and there's no problem with that.
On the other hand, there are many who aren't interested in the message behind the music. To someone else, maybe it's something to dance to, maybe it's just a catchy rhythm, maybe it's (God forbid!) background music at a party or during chores.
There's no "right" way to enjoy a song. Each way is equally legitimate. Who are you—who am I, who is anyone— to say how to listen to music? If music isn't enjoyable, why even listen?
Further, plenty of music doesn't have anything important to say. Eurobeat songs generally follow a basic plot, but don't have any important commentary. Do "Be My Lover" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" really have anything important to say? No, they just have a pleasing melody. Similarly, though I can understand very few words in Japanese songs, I enjoy the singing and the instruments—the talent. Any idiot can espouse a message, but that's not what makes music so special.
Music means something different to everyone, and ultimately I'm going to have to reject the serious "it has to have a message to be valid" philosophy. Message or not, whenever I hear a good synthesizer beat a big, stupid grin crosses my face.