"The Hills of Tanchico": A Song That Conquered Hearts
It's been a few weeks since The Wheel of Time season 3 wrapped up on Prime Video, and honestly, I’m still reeling. The show was incredible, but the biggest surprise? "The Hills of Tanchico," Elayne's unexpectedly brilliant tavern performance in episode six. It's catchy, it's funny, it’s got depth...it's the kind of song you find yourself humming days later. And judging by the reaction at JordanCon, I'm not alone!
Behind the Music: A Chat with Nikhil Koparkar
I got a chance to talk to Nikhil Koparkar, the composer who practically conjured this masterpiece in a single morning! The pressure was on; the scenes were being filmed, and they needed the music. He told me how the lyrics were passed along, and then it was pretty much, "Here's the brief; go nuts!" The instructions? "Make it sound like a sea shanty, include Asian and African instruments, and capture Elayne’s journey from hesitant to confident."
Nikhil's a massive fan of the books, and you can hear that love in the music. He even snuck in subtle musical Easter eggs for die-hard fans. That level of detail is what makes this song special. And he collaborated with the actors, giving notes like, "Ceara, sing it with more confidence in this part," which worked perfectly to capture the scene's evolution. He even mentioned the surprisingly quick approval process – 48 hours! – and then it was off to recording. The whole experience sounds insane, and in the best way possible.
The song is already a fan favorite, with singalongs popping up everywhere. Nikhil described seeing the JordanCon performance as “one of the most surreal moments of his life,” which is totally understandable given the song's unexpected success. And Amazon is even putting it forward for an Emmy for Best Music and Lyrics! Talk about a full circle moment!
Season 4 Hopes and Dreams (and a Rebecca Horn Exhibit!)
Of course, the big question is whether we'll see a season 4. Nobody knows yet! That includes Nikhil, who's just as anxiously awaiting news. But he's open to returning if they renew it. In the meantime, he's busy with other projects, including his own music and his BookTube channel, "Shelf Esteem" (clever, right?).
It's actually a wild coincidence that another story about the passage of time recently popped up: I also learned about a Rebecca Horn exhibition at the Castello di Rivoli that features a piece called "Das Rad der Zeit" (The Wheel of Time). This isn't just a beautiful name in relation to The Wheel of Time series, but also a powerful sculpture representing the Buddhist concept of life's cyclical nature. Isn't that a fantastic juxtaposition?
- The exhibit is the first major Horn retrospective in Italy since her death.
- It explores the themes of time, tension, and spirituality through Horn’s kinetic objects, drawings and films.
- The exhibition's layout echoes this cyclical theme, mirroring the corridor design of the museum.
So, while we wait for news on The Wheel of Time's future, at least we have "The Hills of Tanchico" to keep us company. And maybe a museum visit, if you happen to be near Turin!
