Simon Cowell organises Everybody Hurts cover, whilst Quincy Jones puts together another We Are The World…

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti earlier this year, which left up to 200,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands more injured and homeless, the stars have come out in force to help raise money for the relief effort.

Getting the ball rolling, Gordon Brown asked Simon Cowell to arrange a charity single and with the X Factor honcho having chosen to cover the R.E.M classic Everybody Hurts, the Prime Minister agreed to waive VAT on the single and R.E.M. agreed to waive all royalties.

The single, recorded between London and Los Angeles, features 21 artists including Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Mika, Joe McElderry, Miley Cyrus, Alexandra Burke, Susan Boyle, Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes of JLS, Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams.

Aired online and on radio stations nationally for the first time today, the all-star line-up will perform the song at the 2010 Brit Awards later this month.

Across the pond, over 100 US stars have been involved in a similar support effort, with an all-star remake of We Are The World; the 1985 USA for Africa charity single originally co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. Recorded in the same studio that the original track was created in, Quincy Jones and Lionel organised production by RedOne and will.i.am, and involvement from a host of artists including Lil Wayne, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Robin Thicke, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Jordin Sparks, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Hudson, Keri Hilson, Jamie Foxx, Tyrese, Sean Garrett, Brandy, Carlos Santana, Toni Braxton, Jason Mraz, Busta Rhymes, Nicole Scherzinger, Nicole Richie, Usher, Raphael Saadiq, India.Arie, Randy Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Kid Cudi, Iyaz, Bizzy Bone, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, Mya and Gladys Knight.

Everybody Hurts is due to go on sale as a download on Sunday, and hits the shops on Monday with proceeds split between The Sun’s Helping Haiti fund and the Disasters Emergency Committee. We Are the World will premiere on 12 February on NBC during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, and will be available to download soon after.

Words by Reya El-Salahi

Tags: Haiti, Hip Hop, Pop, R&B