Music Production Basics: What Am I Actually Hearing?

You love a song but cannot say what makes it sound that way. Name it and it explains arrangement, mixing, dynamics and effects using specific moments in that exact track as examples. After this you stop hearing a flat wall of sound and start hearing the choices behind it.

I want to understand music production so I can listen more deeply to {song_or_album}. Explain the following concepts using specific moments from this track or album as examples: (1) arrangement, how the instruments and layers are structured across the song, (2) mixing, how the balance, panning, and depth of the sounds are set, (3) dynamics, how loudness and quietness are used to create tension and release, (4) effects, any notable reverb, compression, distortion, or other processing you can identify, and (5) production signature, what choices here reflect a particular producer's or artist's style. Use plain language. I am not a musician. I just want to hear music differently after reading this.