Baby it's cold outside

Marvellousmadness · 16/12/2021 13:23

Wap is a much better song

MorningStarling · 16/12/2021 13:30

YANBU, the radio refused to play last year's Xmas #5 chart smash at all ("Boris Johnson is a Fucking Cunt" by The Kunts - they wouldn't even play the clean version) yet drink-spiking/rape is fair game. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the BBC took this position, sexual assault has always been glossed over by the corporation.

(Incidentally, there is a new version out tomorrow to try to beat last year's chart position, "Boris Johnson is STILL a Fucking Cunt" - more people seem pissed off by him than were last year, so fingers-crossed it can beat Ed Sheeran etc.)

MrzClaus · 16/12/2021 13:34

I always heard the song (isn't it from the 40s?!) as her trying to pretend / make excuses about why she couldn't stay when she really wanted to - because people will ask, at least she can say she tried etc. She suggests half a drink more and staying 🤷🏻‍♀️ it was sung by a husband and wife duo, not in a predatory way imo. Also "what's in this drink" wasn't that meant to be a question about alcohol content rather than spiking drugs?

LittleRoundRobin · 16/12/2021 13:39

@Marvellousmadness

Wap is a much better song

Wap is a fucking abomination. One of the worst songs I have ever heard. Utter shite.

Then again, I hate Baby It's Cold Outside too. For no other reason than it's just shit.

Nesbo · 16/12/2021 13:40

Apparently the “what’s in this drink” line was itself a joke in which the punchline was there was nothing in the drink (not even alcohol), but the line allowed the female role to pretend that it was drink going to her head that was lowering the “inhibitions” that society demanded she perform (women not being permitted to own up to sexual desire if they were to be considered “good”).

CrazyBaubles · 16/12/2021 13:40

My understanding is the same as MrzClaus - at the time it was written it was more that she wants to stay but it was 'improper' so she makes half hearted attempts to leave. And "what's in this drink" was a discreet way of asking if there was alcohol in it because then maybe she wouldn't be responsible for having to stay / it would be an acceptable excuse.

I don't think banning it would achieve much tbh - there are way worse songs out there - look at how popular Blurred Lines was a few years ago!

Ducksareruiningmypatio · 16/12/2021 13:44

@MrzClaus

I always heard the song (isn't it from the 40s?!) as her trying to pretend / make excuses about why she couldn't stay when she really wanted to - because people will ask, at least she can say she tried etc. She suggests half a drink more and staying 🤷🏻‍♀️ it was sung by a husband and wife duo, not in a predatory way imo. Also "what's in this drink" wasn't that meant to be a question about alcohol content rather than spiking drugs?

This, people don't read into backgrounds before they jump on the "BAN IT" Bandwagon. "Hey what's in this drink" was a fairly common turn of phrase back then, it meant someone wanted to do something they maybe shouldn't. It didn't mean "Fuck I've been roofied" like it does now. It was The song is all about her WANTING to stay it's not predatory at all.

Dontbeme · 16/12/2021 13:52

Within the context of the era in which it was written, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is actually about a woman trying to exercise sexual agency.

The patriarchal society she lives in expects her to refuse any sexual advances, whether she wants them or not, so the argument here is that she actually wants to stay, but is concerned about how she will be judged by others if she does. The man in the song is offering viable excuses she could use to avoid that judgement.

Original poster

SpookyScarySkeletons · 16/12/2021 13:53

@MrzClaus

I always heard the song (isn't it from the 40s?!) as her trying to pretend / make excuses about why she couldn't stay when she really wanted to - because people will ask, at least she can say she tried etc. She suggests half a drink more and staying 🤷🏻‍♀️ it was sung by a husband and wife duo, not in a predatory way imo. Also "what's in this drink" wasn't that meant to be a question about alcohol content rather than spiking drugs?

It is but in the Tom Jones/ Carys versions video he opens a ring on his finger and tips a powder into the drink!!

OP posts:

Original poster

SpookyScarySkeletons · 16/12/2021 13:56

Interesting points! Thanks for the input.

Maybe it's just what Tom Jones and Cerys turned into that's bothering me then? That video did make me feel very uncomfortable!

OP posts:

toastofthetown · 16/12/2021 13:59

The song was actually progressive for its time. A woman couldn’t be seen to want to stay over at a man’s house so she had to put up an artificial protest so she can say that she tried to go. As said before, the what’s in this drink was also part of culture when the saint was written. Anyone contemporaneous would immediately get the reference, but obviously culture has moved on since then. Nothing to do with drink spiking.

HohohoCoughCough · 16/12/2021 13:59

I laugh at Michael buble and idina menzels version. I think it is a bit inappropriate for these times. So you are not being unreasonable

boogiewithasuitcase · 16/12/2021 14:05

I watched 'Love Hard' on Netflix where they do an updated version of the song. The woman does not want to go home as it is too cold and the man wants her to just leave!

toastofthetown · 16/12/2021 14:06

@boogiewithasuitcase

I watched 'Love Hard' on Netflix where they do an updated version of the song. The woman does not want to go home as it is too cold and the man wants her to just leave!

Yes and I nearly cringed myself inside out at that.

WorraLiberty · 16/12/2021 14:07

I'm sure there are always threads about this at this time of year!!

Yes.

Every. Single. Year

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 16/12/2021 14:10

@CrazyBaubles

My understanding is the same as MrzClaus - at the time it was written it was more that she wants to stay but it was 'improper' so she makes half hearted attempts to leave. And "what's in this drink" was a discreet way of asking if there was alcohol in it because then maybe she wouldn't be responsible for having to stay / it would be an acceptable excuse.

I don't think banning it would achieve much tbh - there are way worse songs out there - look at how popular Blurred Lines was a few years ago!

This.

I don’t know the history of the song but any time I’ve heard it I’ve always interpreted it as the woman wanted to stay but needed to have ready made excuses for why she “had” to because others would judge her for doing so willingly.

Toplowlight · 16/12/2021 14:37

I’ve always interpreted this song the other way - it’s about a girl who really wants to stay with her boyfriend but is worried about what people will think, and so is looking for excuses for why she’s not going home.

I obviously also see how you can interpret it as a creepy ditty about drink spiking, but I don’t think that was the original intention and it’s certainly ambiguous enough to allow for a more empowering take.

I certainly don’t think it should be banned when it’s perfectly possible to see it in a positive light.

Toplowlight · 16/12/2021 14:38

Tbf I haven’t seen the Tom Jones video, that version may well be creepy

Hillarious · 16/12/2021 14:42

@toastofthetown

The song was actually progressive for its time. A woman couldn’t be seen to want to stay over at a man’s house so she had to put up an artificial protest so she can say that she tried to go. As said before, the what’s in this drink was also part of culture when the saint was written. Anyone contemporaneous would immediately get the reference, but obviously culture has moved on since then. Nothing to do with drink spiking.

Had this exact conversation with DH last night. It's the society of the time saying she can't stay, but she really, really wants to. Needs to be considered in context.

Still don't like the song, though. As for Wives and Lovers - that's even worse!

PyjamaMuddleduck · 16/12/2021 15:18

It’s a product of its time…

…when it used to be cold outside

RepentMotherfucker · 16/12/2021 15:21

Well yeah but then you have to acknowledge that the mores of the time mean that women would say 'no' and men would try to talk them out of their 'no'. And some (many? most?) of those women undoubtedly meant 'NO!' It's still creepy as fuck if you want sexual contact to be about enthusiastic consent.

I'm not saying it should be banned but if I never had to see an aging Tom Jones apparently trying to get in the pants of a reluctant Cerys again it would be ok with me. 🤮

Shiningpath · 16/12/2021 15:24

Tom Jones seems like a creep full stop. He could sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and give me the heave.

MrsLeclerc · 16/12/2021 15:36

I don’t interpret the lyrics in that way. Like PP mentioned the intent at the time the song was written was completely different to a modern interpretation.

Side note: Doesn’t she trap Tom in a cage at the end of the song? Like a giant version of mousetrap. Got the feeling it was a bit tongue in cheek. She starts out acting shy and dressed in flowing white and transitions into a black slinky revealing dress and turns the tables on him.

I also struggle with the idea of banning songs/films/books.

choccohoopz · 16/12/2021 15:41

This is mine and DP's song but based on our first few dates I am the male part and him the female.

We like it so play it each year. If you don't then don't go adding it to your Christmas playlist I guess!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/12/2021 15:43

especially the Tom Jones and Cerys version.

^^
This version is so obviously tongue in cheek though