Simon Cowell's Haiti Single Ready

Simon Cowell's Haiti Single Ready

Simon Cowell's Helping Haiti charity single was completed on Saturday night (30.01.10).

The song, a cover of REM's 1992 single 'Everybody Hurts', features 21 artists, including Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Jon Bon Jovi and Susan Boyle, all of whom rushed to record their vocals in London and Los Angeles for the track.

'Bleeding Love' singer Leona Lewis has the privilege of opening the ballad, while Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams duet on a chorus line together.

Take That members Gary Barlow and Mark Owen sing separate lines, but following each other, as do Westlife members Shane Filan and Mark Feehily.

The recording was overseen by Simon and producer Steve Robson - who has previously worked with Take That - and the project came together in little over a week.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has agreed to waive Value Added Tax (VAT) on sales of the song, and REM will relinquish all royalty payments from the record, so as much money as possible can go to helping those stricken by the two huge earthquakes which hit Haiti last month.

REM manager Bertis Downs said of the recording: "We are deeply touched the song has been chosen for this Haiti campaign.

"It means a lot that the song the guys wrote all those years ago will be used for such an important appeal."

The single will be released on Sunday (07.02.10) and bosses of the Brit Awards are in discussion to use the song as part of their event on February 16.