Locotubre: The Ultimate Battle of the Best Spanish Songs

Locotubre: The Ultimate Battle of the Best Spanish Songs

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Locotubre brings energy and real Spanish music straight into classrooms around the world. Spanish teachers and students love this fun event because it turns listening practice into an exciting competition. Every October, thousands of learners join locotubre to vote on popular songs, improve their listening skills, and have a great time together.

What Is Locotubre?

Locotubre is a free music tournament created by Señor Ashby, a dedicated Spanish teacher from Michigan. The name combines “loco” (crazy fun) and “octubre” (October). Each year, 16 popular Spanish songs compete in a bracket-style battle. Students listen to the songs, discuss them in class, and vote for their favorites online.

The main goal stays simple: help students enjoy authentic Spanish while building listening, vocabulary, and cultural knowledge. Locotubre runs from mid-October to early November with clear voting rounds. Teachers receive ready-to-use playlists, lyrics, and discussion guides. Many classes also join the skill-based Roxxem tournament at the same time to earn points through games.

A Short History of Locotubre

Señor Ashby started music competitions years ago to keep students excited about Spanish. His famous “Locura de Marzo” (March Madness) event grew quickly. In 2020 he created the first locotubre as a “Champions Bracket” using the best songs from earlier tournaments.

Each year the event grew. By recent editions, almost 100,000 students from many countries took part. Past winners include big hits like “Waka Waka” by Shakira and songs by Carlos Vives, Sebastián Yatra, and Álvaro Soler. The format stayed friendly and easy for any Spanish class—beginning, intermediate, or advanced.

Locotubre now features two parts:

  • The popularity vote (students choose the best song)
  • The Roxxem skill tournament (students earn points by playing learning games)

This combination makes locotubre perfect for every type of learner.

How Locotubre Works in 2025

The 2025 edition ran from October 14 to November 5 under the name “Battle of the Best.” Teachers visited the official page, played the songs, and guided students through the bracket.

Voting happened in four rounds:

  1. Round 1 (16 songs → 8 winners)
  2. Round 2 (8 songs → 4 winners)
  3. Semifinals
  4. Final

Students listened to match-ups, talked about the music in Spanish, and cast votes. Results appeared live so classes could cheer together.

At the same time, the Roxxem platform offered free games for all 16 songs. Students earned “Song Scores” from listening activities, vocabulary games, and quizzes. Top individual and class winners received gift cards, Pro subscriptions, certificates, and badges. Even beginners could join because games adjust to different levels.

The 16 Songs of Locotubre 2025

Here is a simple look at each song. Every track uses clear Spanish and teaches useful words and grammar.

From 2018

  • “Robarte Un Beso” by Carlos Vives & Sebastián Yatra – A happy love song full of future tense verbs.
  • “Andas En Mi Cabeza” by Chino & Nacho ft. Daddy Yankee – Upbeat reggaeton that repeats everyday feelings.

From 2019

  • “Love” by Sebastián Yatra – Slow and romantic; great for emotions vocabulary.
  • “Lo Mismo” by Álvaro Soler & Gims – Catchy chorus that practices comparison words.

From 2020

  • “Un Año” by Sebastián Yatra & Reik – Talks about time passing; perfect for past tense practice.
  • “La Libertad” by Álvaro Soler – Positive message about freedom and happiness.

From 2021

  • “Al Aire” by Morat – Rock-style song with clear storytelling.
  • “Vuela” by Macaco & Koers – Encourages dreams; easy to sing along.

From 2022

  • “Canción Bonita” by Ricky Martin & Carlos Vives – Celebrates beauty and joy.
  • “A Contracorriente” by Álvaro Soler & David Bisbal – Motivational lyrics about pushing forward.

From 2023

  • “No Puedo” by Paulo Londra – Honest feelings; teaches negation.
  • “Music Sessions Vol. 53” by Bizarrap & Shakira – Powerful and fast; great for advanced listeners.

From 2024

  • “Para Vivirla” by Álvaro Soler – Focuses on living life fully.
  • “Mejor Que Ayer” by Diego Torres – Inspiring growth message.

New for 2025

  • “¿Cómo Pasó?” by Ela Taubert – Fresh pop about surprise and change.
  • “Candela” by Álvaro Soler (feat. Nico Santos) – Energetic track that lit up the final rounds.

Each song comes with free playlists on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Teachers can find lyrics, translations, and short video explanations on the official site.

Why Music Helps You Learn Spanish Faster

Research shows music improves memory, pronunciation, and listening. When students hear the same words in a song many times, they remember them naturally. Locotubre makes this happen every day in class.

Students also learn culture. They discover artists from Colombia, Spain, Argentina, and Puerto Rico. They talk about themes like friendship, love, and courage—all in Spanish. Many teachers report higher engagement and better test scores after the event.

The Roxxem Skill Tournament – Extra Fun for Every Class

While students vote in the main locotubre, they can also play on Roxxem. Free accounts let anyone join. Teachers with Pro accounts see class leaderboards and assign games easily.

Players complete listening games, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and matching activities for each song. Points add up to an overall score. Prizes include Amazon gift cards, pizza parties for classes, and one-year Pro subscriptions. Everyone receives a certificate and badges. The platform works on phones, tablets, and computers.

Simple Tips for Teachers to Make Locotubre a Success

  1. Start with a short preview video so students get excited.
  2. Play one new song each day and discuss 5–10 new words.
  3. Have students vote together on a big screen.
  4. Use the songs for warm-ups, homework, or Friday celebrations.
  5. Invite parents to listen at home and vote with their children.
  6. After the event, ask students to write why their favorite song won.

These steps keep everything simple and fun. Even new teachers can run locotubre without extra work.

Student Stories and Real Results

Teachers share that shy students suddenly sing out loud. Classes that usually feel quiet become loud with laughter during voting. One middle-school group in the United States practiced listening every day and improved their comprehension scores by 25 percent. Students from different countries connect when they cheer for the same song.

Locotubre also helps with speaking. Learners repeat lyrics, act out the songs, and explain why they like them. The event builds confidence in a friendly way.

How to Join Locotubre Next Year

Visit the main page at https://www.senorashby.com/locotubre-2025.html to see past results and get ready for the next round. Check the Roxxem contest at https://www.roxxem.com/contests/locotubre-2025 for game details. For voting information, see https://www.senorashby.com/voting-locotubre.html.

For more helpful Spanish ideas, explore additional classroom resources at https://tuambiablog.com/.

References

Summary Locotubre turns ordinary Spanish class into an exciting global music party. Students listen, vote, play games, and learn real language skills while having fun. Teachers save time with ready materials, and everyone feels part of a big, friendly community.

What is your favorite Spanish song this year? Tell us in the comments and get ready for the next locotubre!

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