Merengue is the national music and dance of the Dominican Republic, with roots in the nineteenth century blending African and European rhythms. Its modern dance-band form, driven by accordion, tambora drum and güira scraper, spread across Latin America and into United States Latin clubs during the twentieth century. Short merengue clips circulate online because the rhythm is instantly recognizable and signals celebration. Editors reach for a few seconds of it the way they would a musical emoji, marking a moment as festive, Dominican or broadly Latin party energy.