A cover of R.E.M.’s 1992 classic “Everybody Hurts,” produced by Simon Cowell and re-recorded to help the victims of last month’s natural disaster in Haiti, is set to become Britain’s biggest-selling single in 10 years.
The star-studded track — featuring the vocals of Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, and Susan Boyle, was released on Tuesday, but is expected to go platinum across the pond by the end of the week.
The track will be available Sunday, Feb. 7 via hmv.com, play.com, or amazon.co.uk. Online distributors claimed pre-orders for the new “Everybody Hurts” went into “meltdown” after the song was heard for the first time this week.
“We’re getting record levels of pre-orders for Everybody Hurts. It is well on course to become a million seller, easily the biggest selling single for a decade,” says HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo.
All funds raised will go to Britain’s Helping Haiti Fund.