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Let’s celebrate the bolero eterno! On Dec. 5, UNESCO inscribed the bolero in its prestigious “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” list. Boleros are an indispensable part of the Latin American sentimental songbook, with form and lyrics deeply rooted Cuba and Mexico — the countries that proposed that the bolero be included in that prestigious UNESCO list. The bolero combines the language used in European poetry, with African rhythms of enslaved peoples and the sentiments of the native peoples of the Americas. This week’s Beat Latino features boleros old and new, a beautiful selection of our most exquisite torch songs that bring together identity, emotion and poetry. Sit back, sip a delicious and appropriate libation, and enjoy! Featured photo: Jessica Medina

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