Simon Cowell’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ Charity Single Tops British Charts

As some of you may have expected, Simon Cowell’s Helping Haiti charity single, which is a cover of REM’s “Everybody Hurts,” topped the British charts this week. The single, which was recorded both in London and Los Angeles, benefits the Disasters Emergency Committee and the Helping Haiti campaign.

According to a report at buddytv.com, the “Everybody Hurts” single, which features “X Factor” winners Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke, Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle, and established artists such as Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Kylie Minogue, sold over 453,000 copies in its first week.

That actually makes the song the fastest selling charity single since the year 2000. It was a cover of the Mariah Carey song “Hero” that was recorded by “X Factor” finalists in 2008, which previously held the record. “Everybody Hurts” has ended the weeks-long charts dominance of Owl City’s “Fireflies.”