Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” is renowned for its captivating storytelling and memorable music, and two songs in particular, “Secret Tunnel” and “Leaves From the Vine,” have resonated deeply with fans. In a delightful move for enthusiasts, Netflix’s live-action adaptation has brought these iconic tunes to the forefront much earlier than in the original series, introducing “Secret Tunnel” and “Leaves From the Vine” in the fourth episode of Season 1 itself.
In the animated series, fans had to wait until the second season episode “The Cave of Two Lovers” to experience the infectious energy of “Secret Tunnel.” Here, Aang and his companions encounter a group of musical nomads who guide them through a subterranean cave system leading to Omashu. It’s during this journey that the nomads burst into “Secret Tunnel,” a simple yet incredibly catchy song that quickly became a fan favorite, celebrated for its upbeat rhythm and humorous lyrics.
Image of Pokemon with the Scopely logo. Alt text: Scopely Pokemon collaboration logo, indicating gaming industry trends and potential acquisitions in mobile gaming.
“The Tales of Ba Sing Se,” episode 15 of Season 2, is often cited as one of Avatar’s most poignant episodes. This episode departs from the usual narrative structure to present a series of vignettes focusing on different characters. Among these touching stories, Uncle Iroh’s segment stands out as he commemorates his fallen son, Lu Ten. In a deeply moving scene, Iroh sings “Leaves From the Vine (Little Soldier Boy),” a tender and heart-wrenching eulogy. The episode concluded with a title card dedicated to Mako Iwamatsu, Iroh’s voice actor, who had passed away before the episode’s airing, adding another layer of emotional depth to the song.
Netflix’s live-action adaptation reimagines the context for both songs. Episode 4 of the new series features Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) meeting the “Secret Tunnel” musicians, although this time without Aang (Gordon Cormier). Intriguingly, the live-action version expands upon “Secret Tunnel” with new introductory lyrics: “When you find yourself in darkness / And all you see are rocks and stones / Remember that a precious gift must bury deep inside / So dig a bit and you will find / Jewel of my heart.” This addition sets the stage before transitioning into the familiar “Secret Tunnel” melody.
Later in the series, the melancholic beauty of “Leaves From the Vine” emerges as an orchestral piece during a flashback sequence. This scene depicts a young Zuko (Dallas James Liu) comforting Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) in the aftermath of Lu Ten’s funeral. This instrumental rendition underscores the emotional weight of the moment, highlighting the enduring themes of loss and remembrance.
Takeshi Furukawa, the composer for the Netflix adaptation and a long-time admirer of the original Nickelodeon series, shared insights with Variety about his approach to these iconic songs. He discussed the creative process behind writing the new verses for “Secret Tunnel,” collaborating with a Viennese orchestra for “Leaves From the Vine,” and his insightful conversation with the original series composer.
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Expanding “Secret Tunnel” for a New Audience
Furukawa elaborated on the creation of “Jewel of My Heart,” the new song that precedes “Secret Tunnel” in the Netflix series. “There’s the original song that I wrote, which is called ‘Jewel of My Heart,’ and they’re singing that when Sokka picks up the shaker. Then as they’re entering the tunnel, you will hear the minstrels start singing ‘Secret Tunnel.’” This layering effect enriches the musical moment, providing a narrative build-up to the fan-favorite tune.
He also revealed the collaborative nature of songwriting with showrunner Albert Kim. The initial lyrics for “Jewel of My Heart” referenced Omashu directly, “Far atop the Kolau Mountains, lies a city called Omashu.” However, to maintain a broader appeal and perhaps a touch of mystery, they were revised to the more evocative “Jewel of My Heart,” a change Furukawa believes was an improvement.
Regarding the performers of these songs, Furukawa confirmed the musical talents of the actors portraying the minstrels. “A lot of the minstrel actors are musically trained… We recorded the music first so that we would have onset playback.” He also mentioned the conscious decision to retain a raw, authentic feel to their performance, avoiding excessive digital polishing to maintain the “kooky minstrels with that pseudo-janky vibe.”
Reimagining “Leaves From the Vine” with Orchestral Depth
Furukawa delved into the emotional resonance of “Leaves From the Vine” and the decision to introduce it earlier in the Netflix adaptation. He explained, “Albert told me that ‘Leaves From the Vine’ was an important theme for him because it’s emotional in the original. He always knew in our version he wanted to somehow bring it… It’s the soul and part of the big identity of the show.” Placing it within the Lu Ten funeral flashback served to amplify its emotional impact within the narrative.
To achieve the desired emotional depth, Furukawa opted for a powerful yet intimate orchestral arrangement. “Whereas the rest of the score is this huge orchestra just going at it most of the time, we really stripped it down to that solo piano and the strings.” This deliberate choice created a poignant and deeply affecting musical landscape for the scene, highlighting the song’s inherent emotional weight.
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A still from Netflix's Avatar series showing a large orchestra performing. Alt text: A vast orchestra in Vienna performing the score for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender, emphasizing the scale and quality of music production. ]
The scale of the musical production for Netflix’s Avatar series is noteworthy. Furukawa proudly stated, “Netflix really supported us both financially and logistically. We had a 98-piece orchestra and a 72-piece choir, which is massive. I’ve never seen an orchestra this huge for a TV series. It rivals and beats some of the big blockbuster films.” Recording in Vienna, a city steeped in musical history, further elevated the quality and scope of the score, bringing unparalleled depth to “Leaves From the Vine” and the entire soundtrack.
While the orchestral version of “Leaves From the Vine” is instrumental, Furukawa hinted at the possibility of its return in future contexts. “I don’t see a reason why not. I mean, if the opportunity arises for more ‘Leaves From the Vine,’ one could use more of that.” This leaves fans hopeful for further explorations of this emotionally charged theme in subsequent seasons.
Musical Themes and Collaborations
Furukawa also highlighted the thematic development of characters like Katara and Zuko through music. He mentioned wanting to solidify Zuko’s theme early on, culminating in Episode 6, and the evolution of Katara’s theme, reflecting her journey as a waterbender.
A particularly interesting aspect of the soundtrack creation was Furukawa’s collaboration with Jeremy Zuckerman, the original “Avatar” composer. Facing challenges recreating the vocal percussion for the end credits, Furukawa reached out to Zuckerman, who generously shared his expertise. “He would start beat-boxing on the phone, telling me there’s this layer, and that one is going underneath it.” This collaboration ensured that the iconic end credits music was respectfully and effectively reimagined for the new series.
The inclusion and thoughtful adaptation of “Secret Tunnel” and “Leaves From the Vine,” especially the expansion of “Secret Tunnel Song Lyrics” with “Jewel of My Heart”, underscore Netflix’s commitment to honoring the musical legacy of Avatar: The Last Airbender while enriching the live-action narrative. The insights from composer Takeshi Furukawa offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind these musical moments, promising a soundtrack that resonates with both longtime fans and new viewers alike.
