While attending a Sixth Form College in Luton, Arnold became friends with director Danny Cannon. Cannon initially created short films for which Arnold was asked to write the music. The two made their respective major film debuts with The Young Americans. "Play Dead", a song from the film with singer Björk, charted #12 in the UK. The following year he scored Stargate and Last of the Dogmen, with excerpts from the former ranking third in the most commonly used soundtrack cues for film trailers.
Arnold then composed music for Stargate director Roland Emmerich's next two movies, Independence Day and Godzilla, as well as four movies for director John Singleton. In addition, he has scored various comedies, dramas, and nineteenth-century period pieces, as well as providing music for several British television shows including the 2000 remake of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Little Britain. During film production, his compositions are conducted by Nicholas Dodd. In 2010, he composed the music for Come Fly With Me, a British television series from the producers of Little Britain.
He is a member of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA). On Thursday 29 November 2012, Arnold received an honorary degree from University of West London. Now a university honorary, he will work closely with the University in particular London College of Music, a faculty within the institute. In 2014, he appeared as himself in The Life of Rock with Brian Pern.
He has collaborated with such musical acts as Cast, Kaiser Chiefs, Massive Attack, and Pulp, and solo artists Natasha Bedingfield, Melanie C, Björk, Chris Cornell, Shirley Manson, Mark Morriss, Nina Persson and in 2009 produced Shirley Bassey's album The Performance.
In 2001, he provided a new arrangement of Ron Grainer's Doctor Who theme music for the Eighth Doctor audio dramas from Big Finish Productions. His version was used as the Eighth Doctor theme starting with 2001's Storm Warning until 2008, when it was replaced with a new version arranged by Nicholas Briggs starting with Dead London. Arnold's theme returned to the Eighth Doctor releases with the 2012 box set, Dark Eyes.
Arnold is the second cousin of Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, and is an ambassador for aid agency CARE International in the UK. He has made minor appearances in two different episodes of Little Britain as separate characters.
In February 2011, it was announced that he was appointed Musical Director for the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
In May 2011, he was part of the United Kingdom's jury for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
Arnold took part in a tribute to John Barry on 20 June 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, singing a song that was composed by Barry and playing the guitar part of the James Bond theme.
In 2014, Arnold teamed up with Richard Thomas, to write the music and lyrics for the new West End musical Made in Dagenham.
In October 2015 he collaborated with Lethal Bizzle and Sinead Harnett to create a song combining orchestral, grime and soul elements. The song, 'Come This Far', was performed live at a special event at One Mayfair, as part of Bulmers Cider's LiveColourful LIVE promotion, and made available as a free download from Bulmers' website. He and Sherlock co-composer Michael Price also composed the music for ITV's Jekyll and Hyde television series which premiered in October 2015.
In September 2016 the Royal Albert Hall hosted an orchestral performance of Independence Day with the score performed live to picture, David Arnold gave a pre-show talk.
African Rundown
David Arnold Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
profaning all existing deity, I stab my wide faith, no religion, no wars.
...
wall bodies, blood on my hands, ripping the sacred holy page feel the sound of trumpets death, his eyes blood, divine blood on my cup, fallen into disgrace
angel of death
playing with the blood of the dead
my mind gushing sorrow, my soul is destined to live in hell
burns to the crucified
Rise from Hell, Soul tormenting, heads of the gates, burns to cross, die and die every day you fall, you'll be kneeling to me.
Coming from the depths of Hell with a tormented soul, I approach the gates of the holy realm where crossing requires immense suffering. Those who fail will be subject to my dominance
profaning all existing deity, I stab my wide faith, no religion, no wars.
I reject all established religions and degrade their deities to establish my own faith. I bring an end to religious conflicts and crusades
...wall bodies, blood on my hands, ripping the sacred holy page feel the sound of trumpets death, his eyes blood, divine blood on my cup, fallen into disgrace
I stand amongst the walls of dead bodies, their blood on my hands, ripping and contaminating holy pages. The deafening sound of trumpets illustrates my path towards death. The blood of the divine flows into my corrupted chalice, showing my fall from grace
angel of death
I am the bringer of death
playing with the blood of the dead
I enjoy manipulating and controlling the blood of the deceased
my mind gushing sorrow, my soul is destined to live in hell
My mind is consumed with sorrow, and I know that my soul is destined to suffer in Hell
burns to the crucified
I seek to inflict pain and suffering on those who are crucified
Writer(s): CHRIS CORNELL, DAVID ARNOLD
Contributed by Cooper R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.