The bolero has two meanings. Originally it is a Spanish dance in triple metre that arose at the end of the 18th century (the most famous example is Ravel's orchestral “Boléro,” though it treats the genre freely).
But far more popular in the world became the Latin American bolero — a slow, tender song of love that was born in Cuba at the end of the 19th century and spread across all of Latin America (especially in Mexico). It is the quintessence of romance: a sensual melody, a poetic text about love and passion, a soft guitar accompaniment. The bolero was sung by the greatest Latin American stars, and it became the soundtrack of loving generations. Tender, elegant, and deeply emotional, the Latin American bolero remains one of the most romantic genres of world music.
