R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts"

R.E.M.
"Everybody Hurts"
Single / B-side: "Mandolin Strum"
Released: 15 April 1993
Album: Automatic for the People (Released: 5 October 1992)
Writers: Bill Berry
Label: Warner Bros.

"Everybody Hurts" is a song by R.E.M., originally released on the band's 1992 album Automatic for the People and was also released as a single in 1993. In 2012, The Telegraph voted this song as "the most depressing song of all time". In 2013, Rolling Stone magazine Readers' Poll selected this song #3 of 10 Saddest Songs of All Time. 

R.E.M. single: "Everybody Hurts", 1993

R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts" (1993 single)

Much of the song was written by drummer Bill Berry, although as R.E.M. shares songwriting credits among its members.  This is an anti-suicide song. Berry wanted to reach out to people who felt they had no hope. While Berry wrote this, he did not actually play on it. A Univox drum machine took care of that for him.

The string arrangement was written by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.

In the liner notes of the album In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003, Buck writes 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." Incidentally, the song was used in the 1992 film of the same name that preceded the show.

R.E.M. single: "Everybody Hurts" (CD cover)

R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts" (Glastonbury Festival, 2003)

Peter Buck likens the vibe of this song to Otis Redding's "Pain in My Heart." He wrote in the liner notes for Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011: "I'm not sure if Michael would have copped that reference, but to a lot of our fans it was a Staxxy-type thing."

The music video was directed by Jake Scott, son of movie director Ridley Scott, famous for movies like Blade Runner (1982) and Gladiator (2000). Filmed on Interstate 10 in San Antonio, Texas, the clip is set during a traffic jam where people's thoughts are revealed through subtitles.

R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts" (music video)

R.E.M. album: Automatic for the People (1992)

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. The release was under the name Helping Haiti. The song was premiered on radio stations nationally on 2 February 2010. The single was released both physically and digitally on 7 February 2010, with the physical release being brought forward by one day due to demand.

Line-up / Musicians:

Bill Berry – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Peter Buck – guitars

Mike Mills – bass guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals

Michael Stipe – lead vocals
with
Scott Litt – Strings and oboe 
John Paul Jones – orchestral arrangements

Link / Review:
wikipedia: Everybody Hurts
songfacts: Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
telegraph.co.uk: REM's Everybody Hurts voted most depressing song of all time
rollingstone: 10 Saddest Songs of All Time