CLICHÉ, you might say, but the old saying “Don’t judge the book by its cover” applies well to me.

People frequently mistake me for an ABBA or a Carpenter fan. Don’t get me wrong on this. I like their songs, and I can even sing Dancing Queen or Top of the World when asked. A tune or two, and that’s it. Please don’t ask me to sing the whole album. I might take you up for it.

I was born at the start of the 70s era. One could easily conclude I’d be a fan of these two. And I’m sure you also think I’d grab the microphone when Mamma Mia or Close to You starts to play. Let me be clear. I need more pushing to stand up and belt out.

I grew up listening to my Lolo’s favorite marching songs and Ray Conniff. He was a military official. My Papa loved listening to the Beatles and Elvis. My Titos and Titas loved country, jazz, and classical. So you might say, I’m a mix of those eras.

My grade school days were full of music from the 70s and even from the swinging 60s. As I got to my teenage years, Madonna and Michael Jackson were the pop icons. Yes, I danced to Borderline and Beat It. However, my ears were more headed toward the New Wave and Alternative Rock bands of the late 80s and 90s. Plus, of course, Queen and Elton John.

I remember my Papa asking me if my cassette tape was defective because the singer seemed to be on repeat, and he sounded drunk. Talk about the generation gap.

I am absorbed in these genres to this day. But as I started working and got to work with the millennials and Gen Z, my horizon expanded. I met Katy, Harry, Dua, and Lauv, to name a few. And as I got older, I began listening again to classical music and jazz.

Pretty eclectic taste, you might say. You should see my playlist. The songs I play depend on my mood. So Chopin or Sheeran should always be ready whenever I'm up for their performance.

As a young individual, I'm influenced by what I hear from my family. As a teenager and young adult, I have developed my personal preferences.

At present, I would say my music has evolved, and it has picked up different genres. From the time I was young until I became an adult. And it is still continually evolving.

Age and appearance do not define one’s music preference. Personality and diversity shape our preferences, and music is a universal language that can connect multicultural society and make us intercultural.