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A LOT OF people will recognise the name David Arnold straight away, but even those who don’t know the name will have heard the music.
The Grammy and Emmy winning Englishman (whose father is from Thomas Street in Dublin) is one of the biggest names in film and TV composing today. He has scored four Bond films, Stargate, Sherlock and Independence Day. He’s also responsible in a way for Damien Rice’s explosion onto the world stage.
Arnold plays two shows in Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre next month with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. On 19 May, the orchestra plays a programme of his music, and on 20 May there is a screening of Independence Day with live performance of the score.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie from his home in London, Arnold says that he’s excited about both shows but knows the blockbuster screening is a challenge.
“The bigger challenge is the Independence Day screening. It might not sound like that much of a challenge, but it’s two hours and 20 minutes long, so it’s a bit of a marathon.
“We’ve done the first show before. For me that’s just a case of showing up with a crate load of music and letting your brilliant musicians play it.
The musicians are so passionate and the audience in Ireland are so respectful – they understand the process. I’ve been at enough parties and lock-ins in Ireland to know you don’t interrupt the music.
Arnold says that performing with the film playing is a unique experience because while scores start out with an entire orchestra, they can be put behind other sounds when the film’s final edit is made.
It’s ludicrous and it’s daft, but it’s great to be able to turn the music up. It shifts so much air and the sound comes from over 80 immensely talented people.
“This show is like the difference between theatre and cinema or being at a match and watching it on TV.”
Getting started
Growing up in Luton, Arnold became friends with Danny Cannon. Cannon would go on to become the executive producer of CSI and director of the blockbuster Judge Dredd film starring Sylvester Stallone, but made his feature debut with 1993′s The Young Americans.
Cannon tapped up Arnold to produce the music for the Harvey Keitel film and from there, Arnold’s career took off. His score was used as the basis of the Bjork song Play Dead and landed at number 12 in the UK charts.
But it was the film’s cinema scene that really caught the attention of Hollywood.
“The big funeral scene has a big cinematic score which was played to some people who were making Stargate. Turns out that they were (co-writer and director) Roland Emmerich and (co-writer and producer) Dean Devlin.
I went to meet them and pitched the music as Laurence of Arabia meets Star Wars. Two weeks later they rang me and offered me the job.
Stargate would go on to make nearly $200 million at the US box office and led to Emmerich to begin work on another film: Independence Day. Because the pair had got on so well, Arnold was asked to score the Will Smith/Jeff Goldblum film.
His music backs one of the most iconic scenes of 90s cinema and won him a Grammy:
Of course, the film went on to make $800 million, which wasn’t something Arnold had planned for.
People didn’t expect these films to be so successful. People love Independence Day’s endearing innocence and it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure that’s great fun to watch.
“I know that it’s a rare thing to have a success and even rarer to have a number of successes.”
The man with the golden pen
Those successes didn’t stop there, as Arnold went on to score five Bond films – Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace – and TV smash hit Sherlock.
Bond came about after Arnold recorded an album of Bond songs performed by the likes of Pulp and the Propellerheads.
When John Barry was finishing up as composer on the spy series, he recommended Arnold to producers amid a “perfect storm”.
Bond HQ knew I was hugely interested. It was the perfect storm of someone who loved James Bond and there being an opening. I never took it for granted, but was asked to do five films.
That relationship ended when Sam Mendes came on board as director for Skyfall. Mendes uses Thomas Newman for all of his features, but Arnold was actually unable to do the film anyway, as he had been asked to do a major event in his home town.
2012 was the third time that Olympics were in London – so it was probably the last one for a long time. So the chance to be the choice to do the music for Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony and be available probably wasn’t going to happen again.
“You felt like it was an enormous, mysterious thing. There were 1.5 billion people watching the opening and I got to be in there with the likes of The Who, Take That, Jessie J, George Michael and Kaiser Chiefs.”
Arnold was asked to reprise his role for Rio, but “didn’t want to be that Olympics guy”.
O My
Aside from his film work, Arnold also played a major role in the release of Damien Rice’s O, one of Ireland’s most popular albums.
In true Irish fashion, the two’s relationship started with family. Arnold’s father is Rice’s grandmother’s brother and when he was struggling to get the album picked up by a record label, Rice was dispatched to Arnold’s house by his granny.
“I didn’t know that Damien played or wrote. I’ve got a large family over there so I didn’t really know what they all did. His grandmother rang me and said you know a bit about music and asked if I could talk to him and listen to some of his songs. I said yes and he came to see me in London.
“You just knew whatever you needed to be that kind of performer, he had that.”
However, that wasn’t the end of the struggle.
“I said I know loads of people I could bring it to.
“I took it to every publisher and record company in London and they all said no. I think it was because David Gray’s second album hadn’t done as well they thought, the trend was away from that kind of music.”
Arnold is proud of his input in the album, but is modest about how much he contributed.
I did some arrangements and bits and pieces, but it was his call. I sort of paid for it, which wasn’t a lot I’ll be honest. So we did that and released Blower’s Daughter three times. It eventually picked up steam and in Ireland was selling really well. He’d come over here and stay with me and my friends and play gigs at these tiny places in London.
“Then the people who didn’t want to know started saying now we do want to know and it got taken to the next level.
“It was an amazing thing to see. It restored my faith in my own ears and it was nice to see a record spreading by word of mouth.
This will sound like a name drop, but Ed Sheeran was talking about that record at the Olympics, so I’m incredibly proud to have been involved in it.
As for now, Arnold is working on various projects including a live show based on the music of Sherlock, but mostly he’s happy living his life.
“I’m happy enough doing nothing, I’m happy to have earned an afternoon off. I was talking to Peter Gabriel about a project for a while and he decided against doing it. He said ‘I’ve decided to put life first’.
“You don’t have to always be producing something or doing something. What I think is being important is putting life first.
“It’s nice to be able to do that.”
Tickets for both events, starting at €20, can be bought here
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A lot of people in rented accommodation are often only weeks away from homelessness. Going out on sick leave from work can be enough to tip you over. Properties with rent allowance guidelines can be hard to come by and the wait for rent allowance approval can sometimes be lengthy. Domestic abuse victims can also be at a higher risk of homelessness if they need to leave in a crisis situation. Mental illness is also a big factor. Mental illness is often masked by alcohol or drug use because those with mental illness often self medicate with both. I have been lucky enough to hang on to my home and keep my mortgage going throughout many crisis situations in my life and I had no support from anywhere . Homelessness is a huge bugbear of mine. Everyone should have a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in. Homelessness has many causes and it seems anyone can become homeless in the wrong circumstances. Any spare cash I have always goes to places like Focus.
Very well put Catherine. Keep strong.
100% Agree though I will say, as someone who’s been in Private Rented Accommodation & now is on R/A (not happily, I’d rather have the savings & wherewithal to be back in the Private Rental Sector), I think the “Only 2 Paychecks away from homelessness” is as applicable if on R/A too.
R/A Limits were cut in 2011 if I remember correctly.
For a Single Person, it went from €82 from a €108 a Week Rent to €76 & then a huge cut to €48.80 out of a Maximum Rent of €80.77 (The .77c bit is baffling! Show me the Landlord that charges that for a 1 Bed Flat/Apartment! Shows the bean crunchers in the DSP are living in La La Land!).
That rate applies to South-East (think Carlow/Kilkenny/Wexford/Waterford/Tipperary) and is for Rural and Urban areas in the region which means some get better value than others.
Having looked on DAFT & in my Local Papers, I have yet to find a Landlord who’ll take €80.77 as Rent for a 1 Bed Flat/Apartament.
It just proves how out of touch the DSP are.
Well said
Good for you Catherine!
And BTW, who are the IDIOTS who red thumbed your comment?
(The question is obviously rhetorical – no one expects the spineless little sh1ts to admit to it )
How does one become homeless – with all the rent allowances and social welfare ? Not trying to be smart – I honestly can’t figure it out.
Generally addiction or some other mental illness is involved.
Heres how. My mate was told to leave his home as he caused trouble . So he is homeless. Sleeping in my house now. Its great fun :’( . Kill me now
Rent allowance is not exactly easy to get, I know loads of people that have be refused it from the welfare, even though they really, really needed to get it (luckily these people have now found employment and can afforded something).
All you can get (if lucky) is a horrible bed sit, I applied while on jobbridge but they were so horrible/dangerous that I just paid €100 a week out of my dole, (plus 50 for jobridge) instead, twas a bit of a struggle. So unless you have sound friends and some help, I can see how you could end up homeless. I’d imagine addiction has a big part to play.
I’d love if a study was done to see exactly what the reality and the myths are regarding are social welfare system. Some people seem to think it is easy to get stuff, where as my limited experience on it, I had to wait ages, couldn’t get rent allowance, just got my dole and 50 quid for jobbridge. Thankfully, I have a job now but when I hear people talk about how great are benefits are, it begs the question, have ye lived on them?? It’s very difficult. Is there any evidence that some people get loads or it is a myth.
I am genuinely curious!
Wow, that was offensive on so many levels.
@The Deise Bull – thanks, that’s very informative .
@Leonard – why? and to whom?
Because when people lose their jobs and are in private rental landlord kicks them out and the social welfare have waiting lists. They don’t know how the system works so believe it or not people in poverty can very easy end up on the streets.
Plus the vast majority of landlords won’t accept rent allowance at all, no matter what the circumstances.
What do you mean about who and where I have a lot of experience here ?
While I wasn’t necessarily kicked out, when I did lose my job after getting made redundant my Landlord of 8 years standing whose house I shared with him & others, wouldn’t take R/A when I requested permission.
I had no choice as such then but to move as it made more sense financially than to stick around watching my savings/pay-off dwindle.
I fail to understand why Landlords won’t accept R/A. It means they’ll still get their’ Rent be it for a room or Apartment/Flat/House etc.
What I will say is the paying of R/A to the Renter is crazy. It should be paid into the Landlords account as it can be, and is, abused occasionally.
Lads why can’t you upload high res images to these posts it’s very hard read blurred charts
I would be nice if you could click on the images in Journal articles so that you could read them!
Quick, get one of the women who are constantly on here writing ‘opinion pieces’ on gender imbalance. We need to make some women homeless to even this up!
Hahaha that’s brilliant
A lot of people coming out of institutions become homeless.
Most of the time, being homeless is completely out of the hands of the victim. But i know people who insist on being a bit reckless on where theyre going. I know where theyre going to end up, and so do they.
Shame on the government, we have so many buildings that the state own that they could be turned into shelters.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=301539063245180&set=a.301538736578546.70763.296057273793359&type=3&theater
There is an empty flat complex called cannon troy court in ballyfermot, why cant homeless people live there, its a waste
I’m sure the locals would be delighted.
What is your issue Killjoy with your “I’m sure the locals would be delighted”, stated more than once, blahblahblah, nonsensical rubbish that spills from your mind on a regular basis because you simply lack the basic ability to put forward a more viable response. Your a muppett. Troll or not.
Maybe a bit off the point, but: It seems to me that jailed criminals are in a way better environment than these homeless and than the thousands who are depriving themselves of the basic necessities in order to keep the roof over their heads. Good food, heat, light, cable TV, excellent healthcare etc. Would there be any votes out there for a party which adopts ‘Tom’s Programme’ for the next election: Money should be diverted from our prisons and channeled into improving the environment of our most needy law abiding citizens unless or until the standard of living of the worst off of such law citizens is raised above that provided in our prisons. ?
We have enough money. It’s just going to pay bankers and the likes. I’d rather live in a country where those coming out of prison are more likely to be integrated back into normal society. Take funding from prisons and you increase the chances of homelessness for those who are released, along with a list of other problems.
It wouldn’t cost much to take better care of our homeless. I don’t see why we should take that money out of one important area for funding instead of maybe saving a few quid elsewhere. If TDs were payed half the amount I’m sure that would be a healthy amount of funding towards helping the homeless.
I find it hard to believe that having it ‘relatively’ cushy inside would encourage released prisoners to integrate back into society – in some cases it may encourage racidivism. I am sure the errant bankers and other white collar criminals, if ever the courts get around to dealing with them, would be discouraged from repeat offending if they find conditions inside worse than those suffered by the homeless and the ‘new’ poor.
It seems to me that most people think that having a TV makes life in prison easy. I’d say the hardest part is the isolation, knowing that your family, friends and the whole rest of the world are still living their lives on the outside.
I’m sure the prison budget isn’t topped with TVs or whatever othet luxury items you might be referring too. Most of the spending would go on classes, education and those kind of projects. By simply removing television I doubt we would make any significant savings.
I heard a figure of something like 70k per year to house a prisoner. Let’s say a €150 TV in a 2 person cell that would last maybe 4 years costs under €20 for each prisoner every year.
And I think most sane people would rather freedom whether there is a TV or not.
I too would prefer freedom with or without TV. While you have latched onto the TV issue, a roof to protect from the elements, food to eat, some kind of heating, medical care etc. are obviously much more important and an increasing number of our law abiding citizens are finding such things hard or impossible to provide for themselves and their families.
Yes, the Irish Penal Reform Trust say the cost per prisoner is €65,404 in 2012, not including education spend.
Not wishing to dwell on it, but TV: most cost much more than €150, add to this the annual TV license and the regular cost of cable or satellite channels (I understand from comments on The Journal our prisoners have multi channel TV, games consoles etc.) – I guess an increasing number of households have to forego TV these days.
I don’t believe prisoners should have to go without a roof, food, or medicine. I believe everyone deserves that. What I don’t believe is that it should or needs to be taken away from prisoners to give to homeless. There is plenty of shelter, food and medicine for everyone. The problem is politics and how the money is spent.
And with the TV issue, games consoles and other media players are not provided by the state, you have to get your own if you want one. And they only require one connection for cable TV. There is no way the state pays whatever the going rate is for each to have their own connection.
Daniel, it is very difficult to be eligible for rent allowance. You can see the criteria on the threshold website. It’s not all as easy as it might seem.
The poor white male, the least looked after in our society, we have women’s groups looking out and fighting for womens rights , immigrant groups doing something the same, the gay community get together and fight for equal rights, female drug addicts the state take them in and stabilise them if there pregnant, white men with money look after themselves. The poor white male are left to rot,
What are you talking about ye headcase!!!!!
There is so many houses in Ireland that are not being used by anyone, it would be a good idea to let these houses out to homeless people and in turn they could be paid to do community work as a means of breaking the cycle that they find themselves in.
When it comes to drug addicts they should enrol in some form of rehabilitation as a deal in order for them to be given the house. And lastly to ensure the house is kept in good condition, there should be a weekly inspection of the house by the local council. Nobody chooses to be homeless, there is no reason why it should continue.
And they all lived happily ever after!! ….
So liam I assume you won’t gave in issue if they move next door?
Just putting it out there, most homeless people lining the alleys of Dublin are severe drug addicts, trust me I’ve been surveying alleys in the city the last week.
I feel bad for the productive people in society who can’t get a break and find themselves homeless, but they only account for a small proportion of this demographic.
Did somebody just say that they choose to be homeless by the life that they lead, or did I see it on a different post.
Just watched “how to get a council house” on 4OD. It’s about the UK system, but very interesting. The 3rd episode focuses on homelessness.
If you are a refugee no issues getting a place and a very nice place too if you are homeless irish person and accommodation no help is given
Classic Ireland.
This is not true….
You are racist
To get a bit of perspective, take a little trip to California… The streets are covered by people pushing grocery trolleys carrying all their worldly possessions. You see, in America, you either make it big, or fall bad. That is just the ” free” world though. I am sure Ireland has less homeless per capita than all the other European countries. T
I notice gender inequality. There should be a quota………
Dont wirry folks.
The stats will improve soon.
2013-14 will see a lot of homeless & those in emergency accomodation moved down to Wicklow Town.
All courtesy of the Simon Community.
…Your welcome.
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