At WHS, brackets aren’t just for basketball this time of year. In French classrooms, students are participating in their own version of March Madness, where songs replace teams and every vote counts.
Manie Musicale is an international, bracket-style tournament in which students listen to 16 French-language songs and vote on which one should advance. Each round, songs are eliminated until one is crowned the winner. Throughout the tournament, students can engage with the French language through music and a shared sense of competition.
This year, Manie Musicale has become a regular part of French classes across all levels at WHS, from French 2 to AP French. Classes have taken the time to listen and vote, creating a shared experience that carries from one class to another. Students analyze lyrics, watch music videos and track their brackets as the tournament progresses. The competition begins on March 4 and runs through early April, with each round lasting a few days to give students time to listen and vote before the winners advance.
Part of what makes Manie Musicale so engaging is its scale. Thousands of schools across America and the world are participating in the 2026 bracket, with over one million students voting in each round. Those numbers can feel distant — until you realize WHS students are part of them. The competition has gained an online presence, with the musical artists becoming more involved. Singers like Maheva, known for her song “Toucher la lune,” have connected with students on platforms like TikTok, making videos that bring the competition beyond the classroom.
For many students, the biggest appeal is simply the music itself. Senior Kiran Patel said, “It’s a really fun experience to get to participate with so many people from around the world and listen to music I never would have otherwise.” Students approach the competition in different ways. Some think strategically, while others focus more on their own personal preference. “I have “Nouici” by Jyeuhair going all the way — the others don’t stand a chance,” Patel added.
Not every student is as set on a winner as Patel. Senior Annabel Lang said she approached her bracket more flexibly. “I chose ‘Aussi simple que toi’ by Lenaïg because I really liked the song, and I thought it was something I would listen to in English,” she said. While Lang usually follows her own taste, she admitted that when decisions get difficult, she considers what others might choose or looks to the music videos for guidance. Ultimately, Lang said, it’s about “having fun and seeing how far I can get.”
Manie Musicale is sponsored by Wayside Publishing, a K-12 world language publisher and The Compelling Language Corner, a French-focused educational company founded by Theresa Marrama, who has been dedicated to teaching middle and high school French since 2007.
At its core, the competition brings students together through music and language. If you’re not in a French class, and you want to follow along, you can visit maniemusicale.info to check out the current bracket and listen to all of this year’s tracks. As songs continue to be eliminated, the winner remains unknown, and at this point, it could be anyone’s game.