David Byrne Crafts Oscar-Qualifying Song From Elon Musks Own Words for Alex Gibneys Musk
David Byrne has written and performed a new track, “Let Me Sell You a Dream,” for Alex Gibney’s forthcoming documentary Musk. The 2‑minute, 45‑second song serves as the film’s closing number and is positioned to qualify for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2027.
Every lyric in the piece is taken directly from public statements made by Elon Musk. Byrne said he sourced the words by searching online for “good quotes from the Martian.” He added that the lyrics contain only Musk’s own words, with no editorial commentary added by the singer.
The track was co‑written with composer Daniel Pemberton, whose credits include Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Pemberton received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for “Hear My Voice” from the latter film. Gibney, who directed the documentary, welcomed Byrne’s involvement, noting that he and his wife attended the 1984 Stop Making Sense concert film at the Pantages Theatre.
The Last Emperor earned Byrne an Oscar for Best Original Score in 1988, a distinction he has not repeated since. The new song marks a return to the Academy’s radar, this time in the Best Original Song category.
The documentary, which follows Musk’s rise as a technology entrepreneur and his influence on politics and society, has been in development for several years. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 8 September 2026 and will open in U.S. theaters in October. Musk publicly criticized the film on X in 2023, calling it a “hit‑piece.” Gibney responded with a question about how Musk could know the film’s content.
Byrne’s method of using only Musk’s own words sidesteps the need for a separate lyrical narrative. The song’s arrangement and musical interpretation become the vehicle for Musk’s public statements, such as the phrase “extremely hard core,” which appeared in 2022 communications to Twitter employees after Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
The 232‑minute film, which includes an intermission, ends with the foot‑tapping, sardonic poetry of “Let Me Sell You a Dream.” The full lyrics have not yet been released, and the song’s placement in the film is the only publicly available context.
Industry observers note that the song’s eligibility for the Oscars hinges on its original composition and placement in the film. While the Academy’s rules require a song to be original and integral to the film’s narrative, the use of Musk’s own words does not disqualify it.
At present, the next steps for the track are limited to its inclusion in the film’s final cut and the Academy’s review process. No further releases or promotional materials have been announced.
In sum, David Byrne’s “Let Me Sell You a Dream” represents a unique collaboration that blends the public voice of Elon Musk with Byrne’s songwriting and Pemberton’s orchestration, positioning the track as a potential Oscar‑eligible entry while providing a closing musical statement for Gibney’s documentary.
