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David Byrne Returns to Oscar Race With Original Song for Elon Musk Documentary ‘Musk’ (EXCLUSIVE)

David Byrne, the iconic frontman of Talking Heads, has crafted a new musical piece centered on the planet's wealthiest individual. The song, titled "Let Me Sell You a Dream," was written and performed by Byrne for "Musk," the expansive documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Alex Gibney that delves into the life and influence of Elon Musk. This track, which is featured within the film's 232-minute runtime, has been submitted as a contender in the best original song category for the Academy Awards, a strategic move revealed exclusively to Variety. The composition emerged from a partnership between Byrne and Daniel Pemberton, the Oscar-nominated composer whose credits include the scores for "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "The Trial of the Chicago 7." Gibney expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting his admiration for Byrne and recalling a personal connection to the musician's work. He mentioned being present at the Pantages Theatre during the filming of "Stop Making Sense," a seminal 1984 concert film by Talking Heads, which fueled his belief that Byrne could translate the documentary's themes into musical form. According to Gibney, the resulting track is "kick-ass," with lyrics that draw directly from Musk's own public declarations to create a sardonic, rhythmic commentary. Byrne himself noted that the creative process required minimal embellishment, as he sourced material from Musk's own statements. He described the experience as a thrill, collaborating with Pemberton and working for a director he admires. "I asked for good quotes from the Martian, and found more of them online," Byrne explained, adding that the lyrics are composed entirely of Musk's words, without any editorial spin. This approach, he suggests, lets the subject's own rhetoric speak for itself, creating a unique form of storytelling. This latest project marks a potential return to the Oscar spotlight for Byrne, who last won an Academy Award in 1988 for best original score, sharing the honor with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su for their work on "The Last Emperor." A nomination for "Let Me Sell You a Dream" would be his first in nearly four decades. Pemberton, meanwhile, previously earned a best original song nomination in 2021 for "Hear My Voice," which he co-wrote with Celeste for "The Trial of the Chicago 7." The song's eligibility for the 2027 Oscars is secured through the film's theatrical release, with Bleecker Street set to debut "Musk" in U.S. theaters on October 16. The documentary itself has generated considerable anticipation, with early reactions describing it as a "scathing" portrait and Gibney himself labeling it a "definitive and unvarnished examination" of the businessman. At nearly four hours in length, it represents one of the most ambitious nonfiction undertakings of Gibney's storied career, which includes works like "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" and "Going Clear." The film is scheduled to premiere out of competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 8, before heading to the Toronto International Film Festival. The project's origins trace back to March 2023, when Gibney first revealed he was deep into production. Musk, known for his active presence on his social media platform X, responded to the news by predicting the film would be "a hit-piece," to which Gibney publicly retorted, "how would you know?" This exchange set the tone for a documentary that promises to be anything but neutral. The production team includes a robust lineup of producers, with Gibney, Jessie Deeter, and Erin Edeiken representing Jigsaw Productions, alongside Dana O'Keefe of Double Agent, Joey Marra and Zhang Xin of Closer Media, and Nick Shumaker and Jessica Grimshaw of Anonymous Content. Notably, investigative journalist Ronan Farrow and author Lawrence Wright also contribute as producers, adding further weight to the project's credibility.

Category:SHOW BIZ NEWS

MSG team 2026-09-02