Don’t expect Sharon Osbourne to play John Legend and Kelly Clarkson’s modernized version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in her house this Christmas!
The View talk show host has called their changes to the original lyrics “ridiculous.”
John Legend and Kelly Clarkson’s modernized version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” isn’t getting the warmest reception from Sharon Osborne.
On Monday’s episode of The View , the longtime host made her feelings about them changing the lyrics pretty clear by slamming them for it.
In case you didn’t know, the Christmas song has become a source of controversy these past several years.
Originally written in 1944 by Frank Loesser, it tells the story of a man who is trying desperately to get a woman to stay the night at his house.
With the #MeToo movement and proper consent being talked about more than ever before, this led people viewing the lyrics as severely outdated and inappropriate.
It’s important to remember that song lyrics are being scrutinized more than ever before.
Just take Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams’ 2013 hit, “Blurred Lines.”
The song (and its music video ) became such a major source of controversy due to its sexually suggestive lyrics that the song was even banned from several universities.
Last year, Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon even put their own modern spin on another classic Christmas song, “Santa Baby.”
By changing the lyrics, they transformed the song into a feminist anthem.
For example, instead of singing about a woman offering to hook up with Santa to get presents, they wrote:
“Santa, baby, I don’t fancy any fancy jewelry, not me/ I’ve got something else in mind/ Santa baby, and I don’t need your presents tonight.”
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Despite all this backlash to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” Osbourne has remained a loyal supporter.
So when she was given the chance to speak on Clarkson and Legend’s modernized version on Monday, she didn’t hold back.
“What would John Legend do, if in 40 years, if somebody wanted to… re-record one of his songs, and there was some group that found it offensive, and somebody just went, ‘Oh, I can change the lyrics on that,'” she began.
“It’s, to me, like a master painting,” Osbourne argued. “It’s a piece of art.”
The biggest change to the song is the inclusion of proper consent in its lyrics.
For example, “What will my friends think? If I have one more drink?” Kelly sings, to which Legend replies, “It’s your body, and your choice.”
It was this lyric that got the 67-year-old fired up.
“To change an innocent lyric, to what is it, ‘Your mind and your body?’ What the hell are you on? That’s ridiculous,” she said.
“I have to tell you, I love John Legend. I love John Legend’s wife, his family. He’s an amazing artist that I really respect. Why do you do this? That’s not right.”
She continued: “The thing is, if you don’t like the song, don’t record it.”
As it turns out, Osbourne isn’t the only celeb who believe in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Deana Martin, actress, singer, and the daughter of singer Dean Martin, called Legend’s changes to the song “absolutely absurd.”
Her father’s 1959 version of the song is one of the most well-known as it features an all-female chorus singing the female parts of the song.
“He’s stealing the thunder from Frank Loesser’s song and from my dad. He should write his own song if he doesn’t like this one, but don’t change the lyrics. It’s a classic, perfect song,” she argued.
She continued:
“He’s made it more sexual with those words that he has just said.”
So far, neither Kelly or John has commented on the backlash.
The song is set to appear on Legend’s upcoming Christmas album.
What do you think of the changes? Did these The Voice judges take things too far?
