For those that are not aware, Simon Cowell, of American Idol (and other reality entertainment show) fame has arranged to have R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts to be covered by a slew of all-star musicians and acts.
 
In reading the reaction on Murmurs left me pretty sick to my stomach.  It’s very difficult to pick out a winner from all the reactions from fans.
 
“Everybody Hurts may well be murdered by Cowell's ego”
 
“On a purely selfish note, this will probably bring REM a lot of exposure to a new generation of music buyers.”
 
“I'm very torn about this... do the ends justify the means??”
 
“I cannot help but think that the 'Stars' who have signed up for this are also doing it for their own egos.”
 
Of course there is plenty of reaction to the actual singers that are performing on this which I have chosen not to add. 
 
R.E.M., for all it’s said and done is a progressive act that for the last, what will almost be 30 years, has supported either publicly or not so much social causes both with their own money and to raise awareness for those causes. Putting their support behind a cause like this is noble and should not be taken any other way.