Haiti charity song 'Everybody Hurts' on course to beome fastest-selling single this century

The record, masterminded by music supremo Simon Cowell to help Haiti earthquake victims, has topped the 200,000 sales mark in just two days. (Getty)

The star-studded cover of Everybody Hurts has become the fastest-selling charity single this century, the Official Charts Company said today.

The record, masterminded by music supremo Simon Cowell to help Haiti earthquake victims, has topped the 200,000 sales mark in just two days.

The Official Charts Company said the record is also on course to have one of the biggest first week sales of any single since 2000.

The biggest first week sales in that period were for Will Young.

His single Evergreen/Anything Is Possible sold more than a million copies in its first week in 2002.

Everybody Hurts was recorded in London and Los Angeles and features acts including Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Kylie Minogue, Joe McElderry, Rod Stewart and JLS.

The ballad also reunites Robbie Williams with his former Take That bandmates Gary Barlow and Mark Owen.

Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company, said: "This is a phenomenal achievement.

"The public are certainly not showing any signs of charity fatigue."

Everybody Hurts was a smash hit in the 1990s for REM, who are waiving royalty rights to the charity track, while the Government has said that there will be no VAT cut.

Proceeds will be split between the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and The Sun's Helping Haiti campaign.

Here are the fastest-selling charity singles since 2000, with the title followed by the artist and charity, according to Official Charts Company data:

1. Everybody Hurts, Helping Haiti DEC and The Sun's Helping Haiti appeal

2. Hero, X Factor Finalists, Help For Heroes

3. Uptown Girl, Westlife, Comic Relief

4. Do They Know It's Christmas?, Band Aid 20, Ethiopian Famine

5. Spirit In The Sky, Gareth Gates featuring The Kumars, Comic Relief