David G. Arnold (born 23 January 1962) is an English film composer best kno… Read Full Bio ↴David G. Arnold (born 23 January 1962) is an English film composer best known for scoring five James Bond films, as well as Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996), Godzilla (1998) and the television series Little Britain and Sherlock. For Independence Day he received a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television and for Sherlock he, and co-composer Michael Price, won a Creative Arts Emmy for the score of "His Last Vow", the final episode in the third series. Arnold scored the BBC / Amazon Prime series Good Omens (2019) adapted by Neil Gaiman from his book Good Omens, written with Terry Pratchett. Arnold is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

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.

Can't Buy Me Love
David Arnold Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can't buy me love, love
Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend
If it makes you feel all right
I'll get you anything my friend
If it makes you feel all right
Cause I don't care too much for money

For money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I've got to give
If you say you love me too
I may not have a lot to give
But what I've got I'll give to you
I don't care too much for money
For money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love
Everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love
No, no, no, no

Say you don't need no diamond ring
And I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want those kind of things
That money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money
For money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love
Everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love
No, no, no, no

Say you don't need no diamond ring
And I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want those kind of things
That money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money
Cause money can't buy me love
Oh, can't buy me love, love
Can't buy me love, no

Overall Meaning

The song "Can't Buy Me Love" by David Arnold explores the theme of the importance of love over material possessions. The lyrics emphasize that the singer does not care much for money, and that love is something that cannot be bought. The song challenges the idea that money can solve all problems or bring happiness, and instead highlights the value of genuine human connection.

The opening lines state, "Can't buy me love, love / Can't buy me love." This repetition of the phrase emphasizes that the message of the song is a simple one: no matter how much money one has, it cannot buy love. The following lines, "I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend / If it makes you feel all right / I'll get you anything my friend / If it makes you feel all right," show that the singer is willing to spend money on material items for their friend or lover, but understands that it will not bring them true happiness.

The chorus, "Can't buy me love / Everybody tells me so / Can't buy me love / No, no, no, no," reinforces the idea that this is a commonly held belief. The second verse, "Say you don't need no diamond ring / And I'll be satisfied / Tell me that you want those kind of things / That money just can't buy," further emphasizes that love and companionship are more valuable than any material possession.

Overall, the song "Can't Buy Me Love" is a powerful reminder to prioritize love and relationships over the accumulation of wealth.

Line by Line Meaning

Can't buy me love, love
Love cannot be purchased with money

Can't buy me love
Reiteration of the fact that love cannot be bought

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend
I am willing to buy you a diamond ring to make you happy

If it makes you feel all right
I want to make sure you are happy

I'll get you anything my friend
I am willing to get anything for you to make you happy

If it makes you feel all right
I want to make sure you are happy

Cause I don't care too much for money
Because I value love more than money

For money can't buy me love
Money cannot buy the love I seek

I'll give you all I've got to give
I am willing to give you everything I have

If you say you love me too
If you reciprocate my love