Al Green has offered up an unexpected cover of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” and if anyone found a sportsbook willing to take on such a bet, they are probably very, very happy today. Green took to the social media site we still refuse to call “X” to share the news: “Recording ‘Everybody Hurts,’ I could really feel the heaviness of the song and I wanted to inject a little touch of hope and light into it. There’s always a presence of light that can break through those times of darkness.” I’m as cynical as they come, but maybe the legendary soul singer is right. Then again, has Green ever clicked the “For You” tab on Elon’s site?
Green’s version infuses the classic track with organ swells, string arrangements, and his beautiful voice, which hasn’t lost any of its power over the years. Check out the cover (which Michael Stipe approves of) below.
