An audience with David Arnold, composer

I spent an enjoyable lunchtime last Friday at Hush restaurant, just off New Bond Street. It was the 249th meeting of the Media Lunch Club. The 250th meeting will be on 17th November and the guest speaker will be Lord Grade of Yarmouth (perhaps better known as Michael Grade).

Last week’s guest speaker was composer David Arnold. He has worked on an astonishing number of TV and film productions. He has scored five Bond films, including Casino Royale; Stargate; Independence Day; Godzilla; and TV series Little Britain and Sherlock. If his media work is not enough, he scored the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games and was asked to repeat this at Rio de Janerio 2016.

As no doubt would be expected, he shared some very interesting James Bond anecdotes. When you hear any of the creative team talk about the Bond films you realise how much thought and hard work goes into every film. Arnold was a Bond fan from an early age and in 1997 produced Shaken and Stirred. John Barry, the original James Bond composer was complimentary about Arnold and recommended him to Barbara Broccoli producer of the then upcoming ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’. Well, Arnold told us that was one version of how he ended up composing five Bond films. He told of another version that had Barbara Broccoli purchasing several albums by David Arnold at an Our Price record store when the checkout assistant told her that Arnold would be the ideal choice for the next Bond film. Perhaps as Arnold duly acknowleged, he owes this guy a drink.

Arnold spoke about the marvellous working relationship he had with John Barry and the lyricist Don Black. The signature tune for the Bond films ‘James Bond Theme’ is credited to Monty Norman with John Barry being credited as the arranger. However the real authorship of the music is contentious and has been the subject of more than one court action. Barry composed the scores of 11 James Bond films. Don Black was the lyricist in several Bond films including ‘Tomorrow Never Dies.’ and The World ever dies with Arnold, he spoke lovingly of the song craft of Don Black and recited the opening lines of Born Free.

Born Free as the wind blows

As free as the grass growth

Born free to follow your heart

There in three short lines is the entire film summed up – pure genius.

Finally Arnold spoke amusingly about the challenges of new technology. A director/producer can edit the film overnight to produce a complete new genre and then hand over to the composer to shift the theme from say comedy to thriller.

I was impressed, and not for the first time, by the amazing talent that hails from this island and indeed in Arnold’s case, from Luton.