Everybody Hurts#Helping Haiti charity single

Much of the song was written by drummer Bill Berry, although as R.E.M. share songwriting credits among its members, it is unknown how much he actually wrote.{{cite book|last=Bowler|first=David|title=R.E.M. from "Chronic Town to "Monster" |publisher=Carol Publishing Group |year=1995|location=New York |isbn=0-8065-1724-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/remfromchronicto00bowl/page/88 88]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/remfromchronicto00bowl/page/88}} Berry's drums are largely absent from the song—a Univox drum machine took his place—but he was responsible for the sampling of the drum pattern on the track. The string arrangement was written by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.

Guitarist Peter Buck commented on the making of the track, saying:

{{blockquote|"Everybody Hurts" is similar to "Man on the Moon". Bill brought it in, and it was a one-minute long country-and-western song. It didn't have a chorus or a bridge. It had the verse... it kind of went around and around, and he was strumming it. We went through about four different ideas and how to approach it and eventually came to that Stax, Otis Redding, "Pain in My Heart" kind of vibe. I'm not sure if Michael would have copped that reference, but to a lot of our fans it was a Staxxy-type thing. It took us forever to figure out the arrangement and who was going to play what, and then Bill ended up not playing on the original track. It was me and Mike and a drum machine. And then we all overdubbed.{{cite web |title=Peter on 'Everybody Hurts' |website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/REMhq |access-date=November 9, 2011}}}}

In the liner notes of the album In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003, Buck wrote that "the reason the lyrics are so atypically straightforward is because it was aimed at teenagers", and "I've never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the idea that high school is a portal to hell seems pretty realistic to me."

In 2005, Buck told the BBC: "If you're consciously writing for someone who hasn't been to college, or is pretty young, it might be nice to be very direct. In that regard, it's tended to work for people of a lot of ages."{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Connor |date=January 27, 2010 |title=What's Haiti single and REM song Everybody Hurts about? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8481221.stm |department=Smashed Hits (column) |work=BBC News |access-date=11 September 2020}} In 2022, Stipe told Rick Rubin that "Everybody Hurts" was inspired by Nazareth's cover of "Love Hurts".{{cite podcast |url=https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/michael-stipe/ |title=Broken Record |website=Puskin.fm |publisher= |host=Rick Rubin |date=April 26, 2022 |access-date=May 15, 2022}}

Michael Stipe had originally intended for Patti Smith to be a second vocal on the track, but it did not work out.[http://www.svs.com/rem/other/stipey-aol-0794.txt Transcript from Stipe's AOL chat in July 1994] Smith later included her own cover of the song as a bonus track on the 2007 album Twelve.

{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="The record's biggest surprise, however, is its one surefire pop hit, "Everybody Hurts", an almost unbearably passionate argument against suicide. It sounds like a gigantic arena transfiguration of a '50s rock ballad, with Stipe's voice pleading over triplets and massed strings, and surely will be played on radio for generations to come, right next to unforgettable anthems like "Bridge Over Troubled Water"."|source=—Greg Sandow talking about the song.{{cite magazine|first= Greg |last= Sandow |title= Automatic for the People |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= October 16, 1992 |access-date= November 11, 2020 |url= https://ew.com/article/1992/10/16/automatic-people/ |author-link= Greg Sandow}}}}

The song received favorable reviews from most music critics. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that it has "a comforting melancholy".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/automatic-for-the-people-mw0000089350|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|title=R.E.M. - Automatic for the People|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 23, 2020|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}} David Bauder from The Associated Press said that it keeps "the pace slow and the mood melancholy."{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_caAAAAIBAJ|first=David|last=Bauder|title=R.E.M. takes a somber turn on latest album|magazine=The Associated Press|date=November 1, 1992|access-date=March 13, 2020}} Larry Flick from Billboard called it a "spare, honest, and emotional track", adding "when the strings kick in, there's no denying this song's power."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= September 11, 1993 |page= 53 |access-date= October 27, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-09-11-N.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} Bevan Hannah from The Canberra Times noted "the smoothly caressing guitar".{{cite magazine|first= Bevan |last= Hannah |title= R.E.M. still click in time |magazine= The Canberra Times |date= October 8, 1992 |page= 19 |access-date= April 23, 2020 |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126947760}} Another The Canberra Times editor, Larry McShane, described it as "haunting".{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= McShane |title= Jacksons seal with a kiss |magazine= The Canberra Times |date= September 10, 1994 |page= 8 |access-date= April 23, 2020 |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118136974}} Randy Clark from Cash Box named it the "strongest" cut of the album.{{cite magazine|first= Randy |last= Clark |title= Music Reviews: Albums - Pick Of The Week |magazine= Cash Box |date= October 17, 1992 |page= 5 |access-date= November 1, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-10-17.pdf}} Another editor of the magazine, Troy J. Augusto, felt it "might be a hard sell at radio, given the somber mood and suicide related theme". He complimented the singer's "silky vocals and the song's lush string section [that] provide this track's main appeal."{{cite magazine|first= Troy J. |last= Augusto |title= Pop Singles: Reviews |magazine= Cashbox |date= September 18, 1993 |page= 11 |access-date= November 3, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-09-18.pdf}} Justin Wilson from The Cavalier Daily also named it "the best song on the album, one of R.E.M.'s best songs ever". He declared it as "emotionally moving"{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=giUhAAAAIBAJ|first=Justin|last=Wilson|title=R.E.M. success becoming 'Automatic'|magazine=The Cavalier Daily|date=October 15, 1992|access-date=March 13, 2020}} and "deeply affecting".{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyUhAAAAIBAJ|first=Justin|last=Wilson|title='Lucky Town' tops list of year's best |magazine=The Cavalier Daily|date=January 21, 1993|access-date=March 15, 2020}} Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune stated that it is "a ballad that would border on the maudlin if Stipe didn't sing it with such conviction".{{cite magazine|first=Greg|last=Kot|title=Each time you listen, new album gets better|magazine=Chicago Tribune|date=October 8, 1992|author-link=Greg Kot}} Ron Fell from the Gavin Report felt that Stipe's "powerful and emotional life-affirming message comes across very clear." He named it "a favorite track" from the album.{{cite magazine|first= Ron |last= Fell |title= A/C: New Releases |magazine= Gavin Report |date= August 27, 1993 |page= 20 |access-date= October 16, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/93/Gavin-1993-08-27.pdf}} A reviewer from The Gazette commented that Automatic for the People ponders frustrations of life in the "Bee Geeish" 'Everybody Hurts'"."Reflective R.E.M. on 'Automatic' Sound Advice Title: "Automatic for the People" Artist: R.E.M. Label: Warner Bros.". The Gazette. October 23, 1992.

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote that it is "the most beautiful and moving track on the album" and "just a reflection of how the band can do no wrong at present."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending April 24th 1993|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1993/week-ending-april-24th-1993|website=Chart Watch UK|date=April 18, 1993|accessdate=September 11, 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} Chris Roberts from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week, adding that "this is clearly a "Let It Be"/"Candle in the Wind" of its (white rock) generation, [and] it avoids being fatally overblown by virtue of Stipes's meticulously understated vocal."{{cite magazine|first=Chris|last=Roberts|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52846557010/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=April 10, 1993|page=28|access-date=May 5, 2023}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as an "ultra melancholic ballad", noting that with string arrangements by ex Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones, it is "the "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for the '90s with Michael Stipe as Simon & Garfunkel rolled into one."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-10-24.pdf|title=New Releases: Albums|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=43|date=October 24, 1992|page=9|access-date=February 21, 2020}} Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week, declaring it as "a torchy ballad, with Stipe's fragile and waivering [sic.] vocal offset at times by discreet strings." He also complimented it as "radio-friendly".{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week |magazine= Music Week |date= April 10, 1993 |page= 8 |accessdate= March 25, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-04-10.pdf}} Gina Morris from NME called it "another larger than life, atmospheric pop song" along the lines of "Drive".{{cite magazine|first=Gina|last=Morris|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52851643829/|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=April 10, 1993|page=19|access-date=May 5, 2023}} Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel viewed it as "boring" and "repetitive".Gettelman, Parry (9 October 1992). "R.E.M.". Orlando Sentinel. People Magazine's reviewer found that here, the vocalist "succeeds at talking a friend out of suicide".{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-automatic-for-the-people-vol-38-no-19/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Automatic for the People|magazine=People|date=November 9, 1992|access-date=March 9, 2020}} Scripps Howard News Service wrote that the singer "has never sung better" and noted that "the unabashedly emotional" track "gives him plenty of range to display those pipes."{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tYo0AAAAIBAJ|title=Recordings: "Automatic for the People" R.E.M|magazine=Reading Eagle|date=October 9, 1992|access-date=March 15, 2020}} David Cavanagh from Select said that it is "virtually beyond words." He added, "It will have non-REM maniacs in hysterics with its delicate Spector structure and childlike message ("everybody hurts, everybody cries...when you think you've had too much of this life, hang on..."). It will make everyone else cry. It really is that straightforward."{{cite magazine|url=http://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/04/albums32.jpg|first=David|last=Cavanagh|title=Reviews: New Albums|magazine=Select|date=November 1, 1992|page=83|access-date=March 3, 2020|author-link=David Cavanagh}} Tim Southwell from Smash Hits gave the song five out of five, viewing it as "a beautiful, touching and absorbing ballad", and "bloody beautiful."{{cite magazine|first=Tim|last=Southwell|title=New Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52547462618/in/album-72177720304250396/|magazine=Smash Hits|date=April 14, 1993|page=47|accessdate=December 14, 2022|author-link=Tim Southwell}}

In the accompanying music video for "Everybody Hurts", directed by British film director Jake Scott and filmed along the double deck portions of I-10 near the I-35 Interchange in downtown San Antonio, Texas, in February 1993, the band is stuck in a traffic jam. It shows the people in other cars and subtitles of their thoughts appear on screen. A man standing on an overpass drops pages from a book he is reading onto the cars below, while the subtitles read "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I" and "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy", quotes from the biblical Book of Psalms 61 and 126 respectively. At the end, all the people leave their cars and walk instead; then they vanish, followed by scenes of a newscast reporting on the unusual event. Although Michael Stipe is featured prominently in the video, he remains silent until the final "Hold On, Hold On" part of the song. The video was heavily inspired by the traffic jam in the opening dream sequence of Fellini's 8½. "Everybody Hurts" was later made available in HD on the band's official YouTube channel in 2009, and had generated more than 153 million views as of early 2024 on the platform.{{cite web|title=R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts (Official HD Music Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rOiW_xY-kc|publisher=YouTube|date=October 27, 2009|accessdate=April 10, 2024}}

In 1995, British emotional support listening service The Samaritans, in response to the high suicide rate but low crisis service take-up amongst young men, launched a UK press advertising campaign consisting solely of the lyrics to "Everybody Hurts" and the charity's hotline number.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/heartbreak/the-facts-of-life-heartbreak-939710.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102100919/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/heartbreak/the-facts-of-life-heartbreak-939710.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2009|title=The facts of life: heartbreak|work=The Independent|location=London|date=September 24, 2008|access-date=August 16, 2010}}

The song was placed on R.E.M.'s Warner Bros. "best of" album In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 in 2003. It was one of four songs from Automatic for the People to make the compilation, more than from any other album. The song is included on R.E.M. Live.

U.S. President Donald Trump used the song in a Twitter video showing several Democratic politicians with sad-looking reactions towards his 2019 State of the Union Address. The former members of the band responded to this on their Twitter page, saying: "World Leader PRETEND!!! Congress, Media--ghost this faker!!! Love, R.E.M." Eventually, Twitter removed the video following a copyright complaint from Concord Music, the band's record label. Trump later re-uploaded the video, using Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." instead. Both versions of the video were created by a self-proclaimed Trump supporter named @CarpeDonktum.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rem-trump-everybody-hurts-response-795536/|title=R.E.M. Rebuke Trump: 'Ghost This Faker!'|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=February 15, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/rem-publisher-asks-twitter-to-remove-video-tweeted-by-trump-over-song-use.html|title=State of the Union video tweeted by Trump is 'removed' after copyright complaint from R.E.M. publisher|last=Breuninger|first=Kevin|date=February 15, 2019|work=CNBC}}

The song also appeared in The Addams Family, sung by Lurch.

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated. "Belong" and "Losing My Religion" were recorded live at the Capital Plaza Theater in Charleston, West Virginia, on April 28, 1992. "Orange Crush" was recorded live in Georgia, US, in November 1989.

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• US 7-inch and CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=7-18638}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US CD single disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=2-18638}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" – 4:46
2. "Mandolin Strum" – 3:45

• US 12-inch, maxi-CD, and cassette single 1{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9 40989-0}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US maxi-CD single disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9 40989-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9 40989-4}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" – 4:56
2. "Mandolin Strum" – 3:45
3. "Belong" (live) – 4:06
4. "Orange Crush" (live) – 3:58

• US 12-inch, maxi-CD, and cassette single 2{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9 40992-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US maxi-CD single disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9 40992-0}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9 40992-4}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" – 4:56
2. "Star Me Kitten" (demo) – 3:04
3. "Losing My Religion" (live) – 4:54
4. "Organ Song" – 3:23

• UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0169, 5439-18513-7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0169C, 5439-18513-4}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" (edit) – 4:46
2. "Pop Song '89" – 3:03

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• UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=UK CD1 disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0169CD1, 9362-40860-2}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" (edit) – 4:46
2. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" (long version) – 3:28
3. "Mandolin Strum" – 3:45

• UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=UK CD2 disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0169CD2, 9362-40862-2}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" (edit) – 4:46
2. "Chance" (dub) – 2:32
3. "Dark Globe" {{small|(Syd Barrett)}} – 1:51

• European and Australasian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Everybody Hurts|others=R.E.M.|year=1993|type=European & Australasian CD single liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=9362-40867-2}}

1. "Everybody Hurts" (edit) – 4:56
2. "Mandolin Strum" – 3:45
3. "Chance" (dub) – 2:32
4. "Dark Globe" {{small|(Barrett)}} – 1:51

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales certifications for "Everybody Hurts"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1993|certyear=2020|artist=R.E.M.|title=Everybody Hurts|id=9040|access-date=March 15, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1993|certyear=1994|artist=REM|title=Everybody Hurts|source=archive|access-date=July 13, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2009|certyear=2018|note=sales since 2009|artist=R.E.M.|title=Everybody Hurts|access-date=July 13, 2019|id=5436}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1993|certyear=2021|artist=REM|title=Everybody Hurts|source=radioscope|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1993|certyear=2024|artist=R.E.M.|title=Everybody Hurts|access-date=November 7, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1993|certyear=2021|artist=REM|title=Everybody Hurts|id=2131-840-1|access-date=March 8, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Everybody Hurts

| cover = Everybody Hurts (Haiti).png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Helping Haiti

| album =

| released = February 7, 2010

| recorded = January 2010

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|gospel}}

| length = 5:26

| label = Syco

| writer = {{hlist|Bill Berry|Peter Buck|Mike Mills|Michael Stipe}}

| producer = {{flat list|

• Steve Robson
• John Shanks}}

| chronology = Leona Lewis singles

| prev_title = I Got You

| prev_year = 2009

| next_title = Collide

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Rod Stewart

| type = single

| prev_title = My Cherie Amour

| prev_year = 2010

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = I've Got You Under My Skin

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Mariah Carey

| type = single

| prev_title = Angels Cry / Up Out My Face

| prev_year = 2010

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Oh Santa!

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Cheryl

| type = single

| prev_title = 3 Words

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Parachute

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Mika

| type = single

| prev_title = Kick Ass (We Are Young)

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Blame It on the Girls

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Michael Buble

| type = single

| prev_title = Baby (You've Got What It Takes)

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Crazy Love

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Joe McElderry

| type = single

| prev_title = The Climb

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Ambitions

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Miley Cyrus

| type = single

| prev_title = Party in the U.S.A.

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = When I Look at You

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = James Blunt

| type = single

| prev_title = Primavera in anticipo (It Is My Song)

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Stay the Night

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Take That

| type = single

| prev_title = Hold Up a Light

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = The Flood

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Jon Bon Jovi

| type = single

| prev_title = Bang a Drum

| prev_year = 1998

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Not Running Anymore

| next_year = 2012

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = James Morrison

| type = single

| prev_title = Get to You

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = I Won't Let You Go

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Alexandra Burke

| type = single

| prev_title = Broken Heels

| prev_year = 2010

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = All Night Long

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Susan Boyle

| type = single

| prev_title = I Dreamed a Dream

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Perfect Day

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = JLS

| type = single

| prev_title = Everybody in Love

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = One Shot

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Westlife

| type = single

| prev_title = What About Now

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Safe

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Kylie Minogue

| type = single

| prev_title = Lhuna

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = All the Lovers

| next_year = 2010

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Robbie Williams

| type = single

| prev_title = You Know Me

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Everybody Hurts

| year = 2010

| next_title = Morning Sun

| next_year = 2010

}}

{{External music video|header=Video|{{YouTube|1zugOJU8bds|"Everybody Hurts"}}|type=song}}

}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8492058.stm|title=Haiti all-star charity single gets first airplay|work=BBC News|date=February 2, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2010}} The release would be under the name Helping Haiti.

Proceeds from the single were to be split between The Sun{{'s}} Helping Haiti fund and the Disasters Emergency Committee.{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/X-Factor-Simon-Cowell-Earthquake-Charity-Single-To-Be-REMs-Everybody-Hurts-Sky-Sources-Say/Article/201001315533091?lpos=Showbiz_News_First_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15533091_X_Factor_Simon_Cowell_Earthquake_Charity_Single_To_Be_REMs_Everybody_Hurts%2C_Sky_Sources_Say|title=X Factor Simon Cowell Earthquake Charity Single To Be REM's Everybody Hurts, Sky Sources Say|publisher=Sky News|date=January 22, 2010|access-date=January 25, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125154353/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/X-Factor-Simon-Cowell-Earthquake-Charity-Single-To-Be-REMs-Everybody-Hurts-Sky-Sources-Say/Article/201001315533091?lpos=Showbiz_News_First_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15533091_X_Factor_Simon_Cowell_Earthquake_Charity_Single_To_Be_REMs_Everybody_Hurts%2C_Sky_Sources_Say|archive-date=January 25, 2010|df=mdy}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8480125.stm|title=Mariah Carey joins line-up for Haiti charity single |work=BBC News|date=January 26, 2010|access-date=January 26, 2010}} The single was released digitally on February 7, 2010, and physically on February 8, 2010.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Reportedly, the single's sales in the UK were approximately 205,000 copies in its first two days[http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1039964&c=1 Cowell Haiti single hits 200,000 sales] from Music Week and 453,000 in its first week, making it the fastest-selling charity record of the 21st century in Britain.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8515255.stm Haiti charity single tops UK chart] from BBC

This cover is also noteworthy for featuring Robbie Williams' first collaboration with Take That since Williams parted ways with the group in 1995, although neither act was present for each other's recording session.

This release also marks Jon Bon Jovi's first No. 1 appearance on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31649/bon-jovi/|title=Bon Jovi|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 7, 2018}}

The song is performed by the following artists (in order of appearance):

{{div col}}

• Leona Lewis
• Rod Stewart
• Mariah Carey
• Cheryl
• Mika
• Michael Bublé
• Joe McElderry
• Miley Cyrus
• James Blunt
• Gary Barlow
• Mark Owen
• Jon Bon Jovi
• James Morrison
• Alexandra Burke
• Jason Orange
• Susan Boyle
• JLS
• Shane Filan
• Mark Feehily
• Kylie Minogue
• Robbie Williams
• Kian Egan
• Nicky Byrne

{{div col end}}

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.

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 Minogue) recording their vocals intercut with real-world images and footage from the earthquake aftermath,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8503699.stm|title=Video premiere for Haiti charity single|work=BBC News|date=February 8, 2001|access-date=February 8, 2010}} 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.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8503762.stm Everybody Hurts Haiti Charity video] from BBC 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.

1. "Everybody Hurts" – 5:24
2. "Everybody Hurts" (alternative mix) – 5:35

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales certifications for "Everybody Hurts"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|title=Everybody Hurts|artist=Helping Haiti|relyear=2010|certyear=2013|id=2131-2477-1|access-date=August 3, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.facebook.com/HelpingHaitiEverybodyHurts Helping Haiti Facebook site]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8481221.stm BBC on the song's history and meaning]

{{R.E.M.}}

{{2010 Haiti earthquake}}

{{MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1992 songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:2010 Haiti earthquake

Category:2010 Haiti earthquake relief

Category:2010 singles

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Category:American soft rock songs

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Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction

Category:Music videos directed by Jake Scott (director)

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Bill Berry

Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Mills

Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Buck

Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Litt

Category:Songs about suicide

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Category:Syco Music singles

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Category:All-star recordings