The words to Baz Luhrmann's Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) is based on a legendary e-mail chain letter that was spammed around the world in 1997.

It took the form of a typical valedictory speech listing supposedly useful advice to young people. A legend grew that it had been written by the US author Kurt Vonnegut

Luhrmann, best known in the UK for directing the films Strictly Ballroom (1992) and the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet, came across the e-mail after it was sent to a friend.

He soon discovered that Vonnegut was not the author of the speech, but that the words were in fact penned by Chicago Tribune journalist Mary Schmich.

Schmich had written the piece in the style of a college graduation speech for her newspaper column. Such is the continuing popularity of the speech that this Wednesday Schmich wrote her column about all the parody tribute speeches, based on her original text, she has seen over that last two years.

The album Something For Everybody is released in the UK on 14 June

Luhrmann made a deal with the paper to use what has been dubbed the "sunscreen" speech in an album of prose and poetry set to music. He employed Australian actor Lee Perry to voice the spoken word piece and backed it with a laid-back hip-hop soundtrack from the 1992 club anthem Everybody's Free (To Feel Good).

The dance track has been a surprise hit around the world. Currently at number seven in the US charts and also a hit in Luhrmann's native Australia, it is due to be released in the UK as a single on 24 May with the album following on 14 June.

The BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles has hailed the track as one of the records of the year. London's Capital Radio is also claiming responsibility for popularising the song in the UK - and forcing EMI to set a release date for what was once destined to be an album track.

Luhrmann is better known as a film director

Tara Barun, spokeswoman for Capital Radio, said: "We started playing it very early on the Steve Penk show. We enjoyed it so much and so many people phoned us that Steve gave out EMI's number and said 'Don't phone us, phone EMI.' "

Deluged with calls the EMI switchboard nearly keeled over and the company were forced to set up an answering service to deal with the fans.

"They're such simple words but they are changing so many people's lives. We've had people phone up just to say thank you for playing it because its made them feel good about themselves," said Ms Barun.

If the track isn't enough to make you feel positive about life, you can also buy the book.

Spurred on by the success of her speech Mary Schmich has published it under the title Wear Sunscreen: A Primer for Real Life. With similar sentiments to the best-selling Little Book of Calm some cynics may find the book, much like the song, not to their taste.