# Who here is Familiar with the english singer "Gilbert O'Sullivan" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2004, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415 "2004-02-10T08:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/1 "2004-02-10T08:43:27Z")
Back in the early 70’s, he wrote a very sad song called “Alone Again…Natrually” that was a No # 1 seller here in the U.S. For those here that are familiar with this song, tell me: “Was this song ever played in a movie…any movie”? If so, which movie was it and when was it aired? ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/2 "2004-02-10T08:52:56Z")
Google with “alone again naturally soundtrack movie”. I knew I had heard it in at least one movie. I think it was in The Virgin Suicides where I remember hearing it. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/3 "2004-02-10T09:00:47Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > Google with “alone again naturally soundtrack movie”. > > I knew I had heard it in at least one movie. I think it was in The Virgin Suicides where I remember hearing it. [You are correct, sir!](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1067821/) ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/4 "2004-02-10T09:18:26Z")
Thank You Sir! ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/5 "2004-02-10T09:18:53Z")
Rather pathetically, I feel the need to point out that he’s Irish (from Waterford). The English are more than welcome to him though. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/6 "2004-02-10T09:23:52Z")
This song really rings a bell with me because it expresses some parallels to my life. It was popular during my formidable teenage years too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/7 "2004-02-10T13:22:32Z")
This song actually made me cry. Even though it sucked. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/8 "2004-02-10T13:28:10Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society…naturally. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/9 "2004-02-10T13:35:31Z")
I believe the Farrelly brothers use it in the almost-impossible-to believe-it’s -true **Stuck On You** for the subtle humour. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/10 "2004-02-10T13:49:39Z")
It was also used on TV. It was the second opening theme for **Maison Ikkoku** the anime romance. O’Sullivan is still popular in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/11 "2004-02-10T19:54:28Z")
> [@manwithaplan](#): > > Rather pathetically, I feel the need to point out that he’s Irish (from Waterford). The English are more than welcome to him though. Even more pathetically, I feel the need to pass on the trivia that my mother once taught his niece (the girl _Clair_ is about and appears on). That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/12 "2004-02-10T21:58:57Z")
Ah yes, the man responsible for that musical abomination “I’m a Writer Not a Fighter”. My dad was given this record as a gift. He claims he listened to it approx. 0.5 times; he then put it back in its sleeve, placed it at the bottom of a very tall stack of LPs, and there it remained until I exhumed it, like some mummy’s curse. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/13 "2004-02-10T22:55:58Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Ah yes, the man responsible for that musical abomination “I’m a Writer Not a Fighter”. > > My dad was given this record as a gift. He claims he listened to it approx. 0.5 times; he then put it back in its sleeve, placed it at the bottom of a very tall stack of LPs, and there it remained until I exhumed it, like some mummy’s curse. ROFL - That’s funny 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/14 "2004-02-10T22:57:12Z")
When I tell people that I perform in the works Gilbert _and_ Sullivan, I sometimes get replies along the lines of: “Oh, I remember him.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/15 "2004-02-10T23:16:03Z")
> [@everton](#): > > Even more pathetically, I feel the need to pass on the trivia that my mother once taught his niece (the girl _Clair_ is about and appears on). That’s all. Anyone else get weirded out by the slightly dubious implications of _Clair_ - [lyrics here](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Clair-lyrics-Gilbert-O'Sullivan/32514CDCCAF4749548256A0800173B8C). > [@](#): > > But why in spite of our age difference do I cry > Each time I leave you I feel I could die > Nothing means more to me than hearing you say > I’m going to marry you > Will you marry me Uncle Ray? > Oh! Clair, Clair Or have I become _way_ too cynical? ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/16 "2004-02-11T00:45:20Z")
Yes you have Gilbert O’ Sullivan is a genius. There is nothing suspect about Claire for a start; - in fact it’s refreshing to think a man could write a song about a child and not think about paedophilia. Besides - the middle 8 of this song is one of the best in popular music. I could easily sit here and type 20 of his songs that deserve to be in any top ten list but go and listen for yourselves! Here’s 2 Nothing Rhymed - any muso’s out there - learn to play it - you’ll see the genius - We Will - lyrically up there with Porter/Zevon/Lehrer for dry wit. If you think he stinks - go and listen again - if you don’t know his stuff - it’s a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/17 "2004-02-11T02:46:07Z")
“Get Down” was pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-is-familiar-with-the-english-singer-gilbert-osullivan/228415/18 "2004-02-11T04:32:37Z")
> [@Made in Macau](#): > > Yes you have > Gilbert O’ Sullivan is a genius. > There is nothing suspect about Claire for a start; - in fact it’s refreshing to think a man could write a song about a child and not think about paedophilia. > Besides - the middle 8 of this song is one of the best in popular music. > I could easily sit here and type 20 of his songs that deserve to be in any top ten list but go and listen for yourselves! > Here’s 2 > Nothing Rhymed - any muso’s out there - learn to play it - you’ll see the genius - > We Will - lyrically up there with Porter/Zevon/Lehrer for dry wit. > > If you think he stinks - go and listen again - if you don’t know his stuff - it’s a treat. Uh, if this song isn’t about guilty lust, what the hell is it about?