I hate choosing favorites. My favorite food, clothes, music, etc. all vary with my moods. However, I always tell people that my favorite genre of music is alternative. I do this because I don't consider alternative to be one specific genre of music.

Alternative music encompasses a wide spectrum of songs ranging from rock 'n roll, singer/songwriter, pop, electronic, emo, rap, and so much more that don't necessarily fit into one defined category.

When people hear the term "alternative" in relation to music, they usually picture a person with dark clothes, facial piercings, and full-body tattoos singing about how sad his or her life is. They usually stereotype the people who listen to alternative music as emotional, depressed, reserved, and maybe even creepy.

The real type of people who listen to alternative music couldn't be further from this description. I know several people, including myself, who are into bright bold colors, flowers, and reality television who also happen to love alternative music. I do enjoy a sleek, all-black outfit and a song that taps into my more despairing side every now and then, but I also enjoy rainbows and sunshine and upbeat pop jams. In reality, alternative music is as diverse as the people who listen to it.

Alternative music is a genre for all genres. It is for the people who don't fit into one specific mold; people with multiple sides to their beautiful selves. As human beings, we are programmed to feel a multitude of different emotions, which help shape our personalities. Music is one way of expressing those personalities. If there are so many various personalities, why should there be such constriction regarding types of music?

Labeling is a major issue in today's society. It forces people to conform to meet satisfactory standards of society. While "alternative" is technically a label, it is not as forcibly specific as something like '60's folk rock or early 2000's pop hits. It's own name suggests diversity as it encompasses anything or anyone who might not be considered the "norm."

When one hears these labels, she immediately stereotypes in her head the type of person who would listen to these types of music. She might not do it on purpose, as the human brain is conditioned to label and categorize. It helps us reason, ration, and think logically.

In reality, labels can appear more suffocating than they truly are. Even such a diverse genre as alternative comes with stereotypes. However, one mustn't be afraid to challenge those stereotypes every once in a while. If she broadens her horizons, she might be introduced to new favorites she didn't even know existed, let alone that she liked.