David Byrne and Daniel Pemberton Turn Elon Musk’s Words Into Song for Musk Documentary
David Byrne and composer Daniel Pemberton have shared “Let Me Sell You a Dream,” a song written for Alex Gibney’s documentary Musk. The lyrics are drawn entirely from Elon Musk’s own public statements and interviews, a technique Byrne previously used with Imelda Marcos’ words. The nearly four-hour film, which opens in U.S. theaters on October 16, includes interviews with Musk’s former partners, journalists, and engineers.
The track “Let Me Sell You a Dream” is a joint effort by Talking Heads’ David Byrne and composer Daniel Pemberton, created for Alex Gibney’s documentary Musk. Its words come exclusively from public remarks made by Elon Musk. Byrne had used a similar approach on his 2010 project Here Lies Love, which drew on statements by Imelda Marcos.
Byrne said he wanted to avoid straightforward criticism and instead inhabit Musk’s perspective through his own language. He wrote the melody and lyrics before seeing the film, agreeing because he admired Pemberton’s and Gibney’s previous work. Gibney’s nearly four-hour documentary, opening in U.S. theaters October 16, includes interviews with former partners, journalists, and engineers.
The song may introduce Byrne and Pemberton fans to Gibney’s documentary, potentially widening its audience beyond typical political or tech viewers. Because the lyrics use Musk’s own statements, listeners could encounter a mediated portrait that might shape how they interpret his public persona. The earlier advertising dispute may also prompt discussion about how social platforms classify promotional material as political, affecting filmmakers, distributors, and audiences. Musk and his companies could remain central to that conversation.