It’s quite a surprise to discover that the musical landscape of Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to the iconic Wall Street, was crafted in part by two musical innovators: David Byrne and Brian Eno. Known for their quirky and intellectual approaches to music, their contributions seem strikingly at odds with the slick, high-stakes world depicted in Oliver Stone’s film.
The original Wall Street captured the aggressive and materialistic zeitgeist of the 1980s. Money Never Sleeps, set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis, aimed for a similarly sharp and dramatic tone. One might expect a soundtrack filled with bombastic orchestral pieces or hard-driving rock anthems to underscore the film’s themes of ambition, betrayal, and financial turmoil.
Instead, Byrne and Eno, artists celebrated for their experimental and often understated work, were brought in to contribute. Byrne, particularly, is known for his gentle, almost naive musical explorations, filled with homemade philosophizing. This is a far cry from the “greed is good” mantra associated with Gordon Gekko and the high-octane energy of Wall Street.
This unexpected pairing creates a fascinating dissonance. The music by Byrne and Eno, rather than amplifying the film’s inherent drama, provides a subtle and almost ironic counterpoint. This disconnect becomes arguably the most intriguing and unique aspect of Money Never Sleeps. It’s an element that sets it apart, perhaps unintentionally, and invites a deeper consideration of the film’s themes beyond the surface level of financial maneuvering and power plays. The cast of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, featuring returning star Michael Douglas alongside Shia LaBeouf and Josh Brolin, embodies the film’s intensity. Yet, the soundtrack subtly subverts expectations, adding an unexpected layer of artistic complexity.
Imagine if a potential third installment, set in a future even further removed from the original, fully embraced this musical eccentricity. A Wall Street musical with songs exclusively by Byrne and Eno? That would certainly be a bold and distinctive direction, guaranteeing a film unlike anything seen before in the franchise, and definitively setting it apart from the original Wall Street and Money Never Sleeps. It would be a truly unexpected and potentially brilliant evolution for the series.
