Baby, It's Cold Outside

Another day, another issue with a classic song.
This time, it's all about the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside".

Many radio stations are now refusing to play the song because there have been complaints about it representing too much coercion in the lyrics.
It might just be me, but I always felt as though it was a flirtation - that both wanted her to stay but that she was concerned about what others may say or think. It never sounded like anything shady... more like a game; a tease; basically her encouraging him to come up with more and more reasons to stay and cuddle by the nice warm fire instead of trying to battle the roads driving home.

Personally I think it is getting nit-picky. Pointing out some potentially ambiguous lines that could be perceived by some as being too aggressive or coercive is becoming more about individual perception of what the lyrics might be referring to.
Then again, after a few of those 'half a drink more's, if she left she would be drinking and driving during a blizzard.

I mean, there are hundreds of songs that specifically encourage drug use. There are millions of songs far worse that are played on the radio every single day. Many songs about cocaine, rape, racism, addiction, school shootings, promoting/glorifying murder, pedophilia,  and much more sinister topics. Are we going to begin removing those songs off of the radio as well?

I'm not saying that it is ethical or right to promote coercion, rape, drugs, or any of the like. I am simply surprised at the song that was selected to take the fall.
So many other songs could be seen as this ambiguous. A quick search on Google for 'songs about rape' brought up some doozies - like "I'm Still a Guy" by Brad Paisley (really?).Or what about "Not Fair" by Lily Allen? Turning the tables a little but could be just as controversial. "Break Up With Him" by Old Dominion, "That Summer" by Garth Brooks promoting an older woman sleeping with an underaged boy. How about "Summer Nights" with its line 'did she put up a fight'? " Even "Santa Baby" or "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" could be considered too sexual, especially since the latter (to a child especially) makes light of adultery. "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" has some pretty controversial lyrics in there too, but that particular song is played every single year, not only on the radio but in many commercials.
Then what about "Grandma got Run Over by a Reindeer"?? What about any Christmas song about the Virgin Mary: a virgin forcibly impregnated and then being revered only for her role in birthing her Son and because of who He became?
Yikes.

But, if "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is going to be the controversial Christmas tune of the year, then so be it. I guess it will be this year's 'banned' song because of the convincing tactics uses within the lyrics (even though there is no mention of anything beyond kissing in the song... just to stay longer).  

Gosh I hope "Paradise By the Dashboard Light" doesn't take a hit... that one is a lot more to the point... being 'seventeen and we were barely dressed'. I won't even get into "Brown Sugar" or "My Sherona"... Let alone other hard-hitting tunes like "Pumped Up Kicks", "Rehab", "It Wasn't Me", to name a few.

My point is, perhaps certain lines have been perceived as less innocent than intended, and that perception has brought up some controversy. Why not create a brand new music video that makes it very clear that it's a flirty game instead of some malicious intent and educate others on what the song/lines meant in the era the song was written? Kinda like how we explain that using the word "gay" used to be a common term for joy, or that "fags" was a common term for cigarettes.
Or even simply rework one or two lines for the current era.
I, personally, don't believe that it was ever meant to represent anything but flirtatious banter between a loving couple. 'Say what's in this drink' has never been more than just implying that the drink is strong or weak or a source of 'blame' the woman can pin on for her horrific and slutty decision to be alone with a man without a chaperone. (Sarcasm, folks).
But if the song is offensive and has you cringing, then it is obviously a song that won't be on your Christmas playlist. Radio stations also have the prerogative to remove specific songs. I will continue to enjoy this classic tune, perform this tune (potentially with some reworked phrases) and enjoy a holiday classic for what I perceive it to be.

Above all,
I love My Musical Life.