Why were Gilbert OSullivans songs used in episode 24?
Even though the songs were taken out of the American release due to the licensing expense, in Japan, Gilbert O’Sullivan’s songs “Alone Again, Naturally” and “Get Down” were used as the opening and ending themes for one episode and one episode only. Some proclaimed the songs were used to boost the series during a ratings slump, but the truth was revealed by series director Kazuo Yamazaki in 1997. “I guess that was the Gilbert O’Sullivan song you’re referring to. The sponsor of the Maison Ikkoku show was Kitty Records, and they had the rights to that artist in Japan, and wanted to promote him, so they asked us to use that song. But it proved to be unpopular, so it was used only for one episode.
