After a long wait, March Madness season is finally here, consisting of roaring fans, bracket battles, and…music? The language courses at Kinnelon High School have been putting their own musical spin on March Madness. Instead of basketball teams, students vote for their favorite international songs in this bracket-style tournament.
KHS students take part in Locura de Marzo and Manie Musicale, global bracket competitions that are similar to March Madness basketball. Students and teachers fill out their brackets to predict which Spanish or French songs will be the most popular. Voters decide which song advances each round until a winner is determined. These contests encourage students to interact with foreign culture and can elevate their learning experience. As students predict brackets and find new favorite songs or artists, they create healthy rivalries and an online community.
Every year during March and April, the Spanish and French classes at KHS participate in Locura de Marzo and Manie Musicale, respectively. Students and teachers from more than 6,000 schools worldwide vote in each competition. Similar to March Madness basketball, students fill out their brackets to predict which Spanish or French songs will be the most popular. Voters decide which song advances each round until a winner is determined.
Locura de Marzo contains 16 Spanish-speaking artists from nations like Puerto Rico, Colombia, and more. Although Locura de Marzo has many artists completely new to students, it also features popular artists in American music, such as Kali Uchis, Ed Sheeran, and Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny’s “TURiSTA” is seeded first, meaning the song had the highest number of views on YouTube out of all the songs selected for the bracket. Sophomore Manali Patel enjoys Locura de Marzo because “it lets me hear other people saying words I know and it exposes me to different aspects of the language.”
While these brackets are meant to be a fun, stress-relieving activity, listening to the songs can have academic benefits, such as better listening comprehension. Sophomore Alice Levi says, “It’s a good way to absorb Spanish culture while taking a break from rigorous classwork. We also learn to understand informal speaking, which is different from our typical work in class.”
Every year, Manie Musicale features a collection of 16 new French artists spanning a wide range of genres, from country to rap. The artists come from various countries including France, Canada, and Senegal. Some notable artists include Gims and Black M, who have returned to Manie Musicale for multiple years. Gims has become a fan-favorite in the French music industry and the French 3 CP and honors class, with nearly 50 percent of the class choosing Gims as the winner of their bracket.
French teacher Sophie Adams joined Manie musicale in 2017 after discovering it through a French teachers Facebook group.
Although the debates between students concerning their selections are intense, the competition also creates a sense of community. Students and teachers online create dance videos to their favorite songs, or memes about their most hated songs. Manie Musicale has become a useful tool to spark discussions in the classroom and to expose students to new music. Sophomore Henry Manton says, “It’s interesting to see how people use [French] and how the songs mix French with English.”
Locura de Marzo voting began on February 21, and the final match will be on March 14. For Manie Musicale, voting starts March 5 and the Champion Match is on April 7-8. Furthermore, these competitions of songs continue to have an impact on students outside of the classroom. Manton says, “I listen to the songs outside of class; it’s a good part of my everyday life.” Listeners can discover new international music through the 2025 Locura de Marzo playlist and the 2025 Manie Musicale playlist.
