"Everybody Hurts" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. from their eighth studio album, Automatic for the People (1992). In an attempt to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown asked Simon Cowell to arrange a charity single. Cowell chose "Everybody Hurts". Brown agreed to waive VAT on the single, and R.E.M. agreed to waive all royalties. The release would be under the name Helping Haiti.
Background and release[]
Proceeds from the single were to be split between The Sun's Helping Haiti fund and the Disasters Emergency Committee. The single was released digitally on February 7, 2010, and physically on February 8, 2010.
Commercial performance[]
Reportedly, the single's sales in the UK were approximately 205,000 copies in its first two days and 453,000 in its first week, making it the fastest-selling charity record of the 21st century in Britain. Following its February 7, 2010, release in the UK and Ireland, Helping Haiti's song entered the Irish Singles Chart on February 12 at No. 1. It entered the UK Singles Chart on February 14 at No. 1, spending two weeks at the top spot before dropping to No. 9. The single debuted on the Australian Singles Chart on February 23 at No. 28.
Music video[]
A five-minute promotional short documentary was broadcast on ITV at 20.30 on February 7, 2010. The documentary includes "behind the scenes" footage of the featured performers (except for Carey, Cyrus, Bon Jovi, and Kylie) recording their vocals intercut with real-world images and footage from the earthquake aftermath, opening with a statement of what happened on January 12, 2010, and continuing with footage showing the devastation in the country and the suffering of the Haitians. The official music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, premiered on March 6, 2010. Jon Bon Jovi and Michael Bublé are the only featured artists not to appear in this video.
Track listing[]
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Digital download / Physicals 1. "Everybody Hurts" – 5:24 2. "Everybody Hurts" (alternative mix) – 5:35 | |
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