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.
Diamonds
David Arnold Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They can stimulate and tease me
They won't leave in the night
I've no fear that they might desert me
Diamonds are forever, hold one up and then caress it
Touch it, stroke it and undress it
I can see ev'ry part, nothing hides in the heart to hurt me
Diamonds never lie to me
For when love's gone, they'll lustre on
Diamonds are forever, sparkling round my little finger
Unlike men, the diamonds linger
Men are mere mortals who are not worth going to your grave for
I don't need love, for what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me
For when love's gone, they'll lustre on
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever
David Arnold's song "Diamonds" is famously known for featuring in the James Bond movie, "Diamonds are Forever." The song is a reflection on love, the brilliance of diamonds, and the idea that diamonds are forever. The lyrics are richly symbolic, and throughout the song, different versions of diamonds are used as metaphors to underscore the singer's position on love.
In the chorus, the singer repeatedly asserts that diamonds are forever and that they are all they need to be pleased. Diamonds, to the singer, represent a reliable, eternal presence that can stimulate and tease them without fear that they might abandon them. In the same stanza, we see the singer's lack of faith in love's ability to impress or help them. They believe that diamonds never lie to them, and when love fails, diamonds will still glitter.
In the second verse, the imagery of a vivid, untouched diamond is presented. The singer believes that holding up and caressing a diamond generates a feeling of power and control. The metaphorical diamond's heart, unlike human hearts, is always exposed, making it impossible to hurt the singer. They reiterate that they don't need love, highlighting their unwavering trust in diamonds as a source of comfort and assurance.
Line by Line Meaning
Diamonds are forever, they are all I need to please me
The beauty and value of diamonds is limitless and they provide enough satisfaction for me
They can stimulate and tease me
Diamonds can evoke varying emotions in me and arouse my curiosity
They won't leave in the night
Diamonds cannot betray me or exit my life unexpectedly
I've no fear that they might desert me
I am not worried that diamonds will abandon me at any point
Hold one up and then caress it
Diamonds demand attention and require admiring touches
Touch it, stroke it and undress it
I can explore and unravel the layers of a diamond to reveal its full potential
I can see ev'ry part, nothing hides in the heart to hurt me
Every facet of a diamond is visible, it can't conceal any surprises or wounds that may hurt me
I don't need love, for what good will love do me?
The ephemeral nature of love is pointless to me and cannot entice or satisfy me in the same way that diamonds do
Diamonds never lie to me
Unlike humans, diamonds cannot deceive or lie to me, providing a trustworthy source of happiness
For when love's gone, they'll lustre on
After love has faded away, the beauty and shine of diamonds still remain
Unlike men, the diamonds linger
Unlike men, whose presence in my life is temporary, diamonds remain a constant treasure
Men are mere mortals who are not worth going to your grave for
Men, being mortal, are not worth investing one's life or dying for
Diamonds are forever, sparkling round my little finger
The everlasting, shimmering quality of diamonds adds extra value to have them on my finger
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever
The timelessness and limitless value of diamonds is immeasurable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Barry, Don Black
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gerrymckeever1414
The most underrated voice of all time. How is he not regarded as one of the greats?
@garethgilmour9021
David McAlmont has an incredible voice and I absolutely love the song he did with Bernard Butler (Bernard Butler & Almont "Yes"). His vocal range is phenomenal 😃👌
@throbule
Doesn't matter what anyone says, this is just too f**king stunning for criticism.
What a voice that man's got!
Whatever happens David McAlmont, you'll be treasured for your sheer bravado and those insanely good vocal chords and the killer singing!
@joshdeese432
Baba And those heels!!
@rulnacco
@Josh Deese They. Fucking. Slay. Bitch!
@marklaing9485
🏴🥃🥃🥃sitting in the back garden 🥴just listening 🥳😇
@maxinepears9898
Dear lord I think this just might be the best music video I have ever seen! David McAlmont should have been a mega-star - nobody had his voice, his look and his sheer bloody fabulousness!
@anthonyintexas
You ain't kiddin'
@lukasfortinthedogstar
i know ,it's a shame
@Ferg1882
He really should have been. What a voice and a talent