Baby, It’s Cold Outside and its #MeToo Makeover

graphic courtesy of shuttershock.com

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has been a classic Christmas song for decades. It’s inundated millions of holiday playlists and countless chorus concerts every year; but, this Christmas “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is getting a 2019 #MeToo makeover. John Legend and Kelly Clarkson have modernized the song which will be released in Legend’s upcoming Christmas album and honestly, it’s about time. 

The original 1959 version received backlash in recent years, as many claim it promotes date rape and sexual harassment. Some radio stations even pulled the song from their Christmas rotation as more and more people boycotted the song. 

Cleveland’s WDOK station was one of the first to announce its ban of the song last year. Host Glenn Anderson said, “The world we live in is extra sensitive now, and people get easily offended, but in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place.

The original song includes a man trying to persuade a woman to stay longer and attempting to convince her while she insists that she should go. The woman sings lyrics like “I really can’t stay,” to which the man responds “But baby, it’s cold outside.” In other parts of the song the woman sings “Say, what’s in this drink,”  “The answer is no,” and “I’ve gotta get home”.

...Disturbing, right? It’s a little unsettling to listen to the words of the old classic song, especially in today’s social climate where women are becoming more and more empowered to stand up against rape culture.

Legend’s updated lyrics read as such:

Clarkson: What will my friends think…

Legend: I think they should rejoice

Clarkson: ...If I have one more drink?

Legend: It’s your body and your choice.

Legend even offers to call for his date’s ride home at the end of the song. *slow clap.* 

This has sparked even more debate over the issue of consent, and many have slammed Legend for “ruining” the classic Christmas song. Last year, arguments erupted on social media, and Fox News and CNN even held panels on the topic. The defenders of the original say that political correctness has gone too far, and warned against ruining a song that was merely meant to be seductive.

Piers Morgan went after Legend, calling the song “a load of nauseating PC-crazed tripe.” He also criticized Legend for rewriting “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” instead of the “shockingly sexist and misogynist” lyrics in rap songs from artists such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kanye West.

We understand why people who spent their whole lives listening to the original (hi boomers) are upset about the new song. It’s not as flirty. It’s more politically correct. But frankly, many people have had enough. They don’t want to listen to songs that seem to encourage sexist behaviors and normalize sexual harassment. Besides, the boomers can only have a real issue if the song turns out badly. And that is a judgement call we’ll reserve for when Legend’s rendition gets released.

It’s never a bad thing for us as a society to try to be better. The solution might not always be perfect, but working towards an environment that is inclusive and respectful of others is always worth a shot. Sometimes, tradition can change for the better.