Clair (song)

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"Clair" is a popular song by Irish singer and songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan and is one of his biggest selling singles. Written by O'Sullivan and produced by Gordon Mills, it was the number one single in the UK for two weeks in November 1972 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.

The song at first appears to be the love song of an older man for a young girl, especially in the whistling, done during the introduction to the song. It's only at the very end that we learn it's about a young man's genuine love and affection for his baby niece. This gives the song's lyrics a sweetness and depth not usually found in pop songs. The "real" Clair was, in fact, the infant daughter of O'Sullivan's manager and the song's producer, Gordon Mills, who's giggling is heard at the very end of the song.

"Clair" was used in the 1997 film Air Bud. A good version in a foreign language was performed in 1973 by the Italian crooner Johnny Dorelli .

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Preceded by "Mouldy Old Dough" by Lieutenant Pigeon

UK number one single November 7, 1972

Succeeded by "My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry