The Voice coaches, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson, have released their rendition of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and fans are not responding well to the new rewritten lyrics.
As you may already know, the classic holiday tune, “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, written in 1944, was ripped from most airwaves last year due to its controversial lyrics.
While it’s impossible to say for certain what the song was written about all those years ago, many argue that the song is an ode to sexual assault.
Here’s a brief history lesson on the song:
It was composed in 1944, and was recorded in 1948 for the musical, Neptune’s Daughter — where they labeled the male and female parts “the Wolf” and “the Mouse”.
To summarize, the lyrics are essentially the “wolf” trying to pursuade the “mouse” to stay at his house, despite her continuous protest.
But after decades, the song’s meaning seems to have gotten lost in translation — because now the lyrics just sound creepy, tbh.
Here are some of the original lyrics in question:
“My mother will start to worry (beautiful what’s your hurry?)”
“But maybe just a half a drink more (put some records on while I pour)”
“Say, what’s in this drink? (no cabs to be had out there)”
Ever since people began to realize that the lyrics in the song suggest that the man is trying to pressure the woman into staying so that he can “take advantage” of her, it’s more or less been considered taboo.
It’s possible that the song was meant to be sexy and playful at the time it was written , but it’s safe to say it hasn’t aged well.
Anyway, “The Voice” coaches, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson thought it was the perfect time to step in and redefine “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by changing up the lyrics.
Presumably, they probably thought they were doing the right thing…
But instead of being praised for replacing the questionable lyrics with new ones like, “It’s your body and your choice”, they’re receiving a substantial amount of criticism.
There’s no winning!
The new, more appropriate lyrics look like this:
“What will my friends think (I think they should rejoice)”
“If I have one more drink? (It’s your body, and your choice)”
“I really can’t stay (Baby it’s cold outside)”
“I’ve gotta go away (I can call you a ride.)”
Deana Martin, the daughter of Dean Martin — the singer who originally popularized the song with his 1959 version, expressed her dismay over John and Kelly’s lyric alterations on “Good Morning Britain”.
“You do not change the lyrics to the song,” she said .
“[John] made it more sexual with those words that he has just said. It’s absolutely absurd,” she continued.
She explained that she feels that John and Kelly stole from the original composer of the song as well as her father.
“I think what he’s done is, 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 concluded .
Even Sharon Osbourne put John and Kelly’s version of the song through the wringer.
“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 [Chrissy Teigen], his family,” she went on.
“He’s an amazing artist that I really respect . Why do you do this? That’s not right.”
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Neither John or Kelly have responded to any of the backlash yet.
Maybe they’re hoping that people will start to warm up to their alterations after a few listens!
Listen for yourself!
Let us know what you think of John Legend and Kelly Clarkson’s rendition of “Baby It’s Cold Outside”!
Are the new lyrics better? Or should they have left the lyrics as is?
