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.
Thunderball
David Arnold Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He acts while other men just talk
He looks at this world, and wants it all
So he strikes, like thunderball
He knows the meaning of success
His needs are more, so he gives less
They call him the winner who takes all
Any woman he wants, he'll get
He will break any heart without regret
His days of asking are all gone
His fight goes on and on and on
But he thinks that the fight is worth it all
So he strikes like thunderball
The lyrics of David Arnold feat. Martin Fry's Thunderball song depict a man who is always on the move and does not wait around for others. The singer is a go-getter who aims to conquer the world and does not hesitate to go all out to get what he wants. He is relentless in his pursuit of success, which he equates with power and control over his surroundings. The phrase 'Thunderball' refers to a powerful force or impact, and thus, the singer's ambition and drive are like thunderbolts that strike with full force.
The lyrics portray a man who seeks to dominate in every area of life, including mastering women. Women, in his eyes, are mere objects to be conquered and discarded without remorse. The singer's life is a long journey of fighting, struggling, and competing to achieve his aspirations. The lines, "But he thinks that the fight is worth it all, so he strikes like thunderball" portray an individual who is not just driven by his personal goals but is motivated by the thrill of the fight.
Overall, the lyrics encapsulate the unforgiving and relentless spirit of an individual who is determined to be the best at everything he does. Notably, Thunderball was the title song for the fourth James Bond film of the same name.
Line by Line Meaning
He always runs while others walk
He is someone who is in a constant hurry, always ahead of everyone else.
He acts while other men just talk
He is someone who does not waste time in empty conversations and instead takes action.
He looks at this world, and wants it all
He is someone who has big aspirations and desires everything the world has to offer.
So he strikes, like thunderball
He makes bold moves and takes action like a thunderball, leaving an impact everywhere he goes.
He knows the meaning of success
He understands what success means and how to achieve it.
His needs are more, so he gives less
He prioritizes his own needs over others and therefore gives less than what he receives.
They call him the winner who takes all
He has a reputation of always winning and taking everything he desires.
And he strikes, like thunderball
He continues to take bold actions that leave an impact everywhere he goes.
Any woman he wants, he'll get
He has a reputation of getting any woman he desires.
He will break any heart without regret
He does not care about breaking hearts and leaves people behind in pursuit of his desires.
His days of asking are all gone
He does not ask for things anymore and takes what he wants instead.
His fight goes on and on and on
He is constantly fighting for what he desires and his pursuit never ends.
But he thinks that the fight is worth it all
He believes that his struggle is worth all the success and achievements he desires.
So he strikes like thunderball
He continues to take bold actions that leave an impact everywhere he goes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN BARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind