Ranchera

Ranchera music, which originated in rural Mexico around the late 19th century, is essentially romantic drama set to a catchy tune, often featuring mariachis and a good dose of heartache. It’s characterised by its soaring vocals that could make even the most stone-hearted weep, often accompanied by guitars and trumpets that seem to have been caffeinated for the occasion. The genre not only croons about love and loss but has also been known to inspire spontaneous bouts of sombrero-wearing and strange dance moves at family gatherings, proving that some traditions never die hard, but they do die enthusiastically.