Everybody Hurts

Story of Song

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake disaster, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown contacted producer Simon Cowell, asking him to produce a song to raise money for the victims of the earthquake. Cowell agreed, and chose the 1992 R.E.M single ‘Everybody Hurts’. Cowell gathered 21 artists for this charity song: Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Mika, Michael Bublé, Joe McElderry, Miley Cyrus, James Blunt, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen of Take That, Jon Bon Jovi, James Morrison, Alexandra Burke, Susan Boyle, Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes of JLS, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily of Westlife, Kylie Minogue, and Robbie Williams. Proceeds from the song were split between The Sun’s Helping Haiti fund and the Disasters Emergency Committee. The Prime Minister agreed to waive VAT, and R.E.M. agreed to waive all royalties. R.E.M’s manager Bertis Downs told The Sun: “We are deeply touched the song has been chosen for this Haiti campaign. It means a lot that the song the guys wrote all those years ago will be used for such an important appeal.”

Release date

Released February 7, 2010

Songwriter/s

Bill Berry – Peter Buck – Mike Mills – Michael Stipe

Label

Syco

Chart Rankings

ITALY – 14

UK – 1

GERMANY  – 16

This charity cover topped the charts in the UK and sold over 600.000 copies. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it Platinum. The song also topped the charts in Ireland, peaked at number 5 in Netherlands, at number 28 in Australia, and at number 59 in Canada.

Artist’s age on release date

A group of musicians was gathered especially for this noble cause.

Cover Versions

DJ Sammy featuring Nyah – Jasmine Thompson – The Corrs – Coldplay – The Voice 2015 Team Pharrell Williams – amateur artists covered this song on Youtube.