M.Ted:
I think of Music as a type of conversation.

Generations ago, people didn't mingle much with their neighbors/community..until there was a gathering. Maybe they'd gather to butcher a hog or do some type of harvest task..whatever reason they worked together occasionally.
At those gatherings, they were amongst their friends who were also strangers.
If my cow stepped on your corn earlier in the year, you and I would both feel horrible about it. If you and I had an arrangement where we traded grain for milk..we're both going to have a skinny winter. When there's music at the gathering, we have a good way of avoiding arguments/tension and we can both get our dose of Community because of the distraction music offers. Fighting is not healthy and we both know we need each other (whether we like each other or not)

Dancing/singing works as a way to get some talk-conversation going, it thaws us out and helps break the isolation. It puts everybody on equal footing and it's a Cheerful Sound. It is also a sound made by other humans.

I think music should be fun.
When I'm not having fun, I take a break from it because I know it is supposed to make my life better. When it's a chore, I might as well spend my time otherwhere.
As a second language, music does a pretty good job of helping people from different places/background/etc communicate..

Things are different now and I suppose you'd sue me if my cow stepped on your corn..but life isn't any easier now than it ever was. It's just different--and it's good that we have music.

...which is the longway of saying that I agree with you.