David Byrne, frontman of the Talking Heads, has composed an original song for filmmaker Alex Gibney’s documentary about Elon Musk. Titled “Let Me Sell You a Dream,” the track features in the 235-minute film and qualifies for consideration in the Academy Awards’ best original song category. Byrne collaborated with composer Daniel Pemberton, who previously earned an Oscar nomination for his work on “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
The song’s lyrics draw exclusively from Musk’s own public statements and quotes. Byrne explained that he requested memorable phrases from the billionaire entrepreneur and sourced additional material online, using Musk’s words directly without modification or commentary. Director Gibney praised the final product, describing it as “kick-ass” and noting how Byrne captured the essence of what the film attempts to convey through sardonic, rhythmic poetry.
For Byrne, this marks a significant return to the Oscar stage. The musician won the Academy Award for best original score in 1988 for “The Last Emperor,” sharing the honor with collaborators Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su. A nomination for “Let Me Sell You a Dream” would represent his first Oscar race participation in nearly four decades. The “Musk” documentary, described as a comprehensive examination of its subject, premieres at Venice Film Festival before arriving in theaters October 16 through Bleecker Street.
Originally reported by Variety →
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