John Legend and Kelly Clarkson #MeToo-mize This Christmas Classic
NBC ‘The Voice’ coaches John Legend and Kelly Clarkson are giving the 1994 holiday classic, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” a much needed makeover. Given how many controversies the song has had since 2004, it needed a 2019 update!
The original “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
Before we delve into why John and Kelly changed the lyrics, here is what the old lyrics are: “I really can’t stay,” the Mouse sings. “But, baby, it’s cold outside,” he replies. Every excuse the Mouse offers to say goodnight — “my mother will worry,” “my father will be pacing the floor” yada yada. The Wolf counters them all.
“I’ll hold your hands they’re just like ice,” he sings, and then later, “Listen to the fireplace roar.” At times, the Mouse doesn’t resist his temptations, agreeing to “just half a drink more,” but for every inch she gives, he takes two. The song never specifies that does she even want to stay? Maybe she is playing hard to get? Or worse of all, is she giving in to her relentlessness persistence because she has no other choice?
Which brings back the topic of consent on the table and the song has come into intense scrutiny. The debate got further heated when last holiday season a radio station in Cleveland announced that it would not play the song anymore. Soon after, many other radio shows follow suit!
John and Kelly’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
“Hold on, hold on,” Legend said in his Vanity Fair interview, before explaining that he and Kelly will not sing the original words. “Insecure” writer and actress Natasha Rothwell helped him change out some of the more questionable lyrics.
For example:
Kelly: “What will my friends think…”
John: “I think they should rejoice”
Kelly: “…if I have one more drink?”
John: “It’s your body, and your choice.”
There are also lyrics like these that further the message the former song missed.
Kelly: “I really can’t stay.”
John: “Baby it’s cold outside”
Kelly: “I’ve gotta go away.”
John: “I can call you a ride.”
Kelly: “This evening has been”
John: “So glad that you dropped in”
Kelly: “So very nice”
John: “Time spent with you is paradise”
Kelly: “My mother will start to worry”
john: “I’ll call a car and tell ’em to hurry.”
The three other new tracks include “This Christmas,” “My Favorite Things” and “Christmas in New Orleans.”
Do you think we needed a new song or it is about time somebody switched the lyrics? Let us know in the comments below.
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