By Nina Cherry
Now that Thanksgiving is over, and after the large snowfall, it is time for Christmas music! One Christmas carol has become quite controversial lately; “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” The song was written in 1944 by Frank Loesser, but was made popular when it appeared in the film Neptune’s Daughter in 1949.
I have been listening to this song for years, but it wasn’t until a couple years ago when I realized unsettling the lyrics were. As the song continues, the male’s “friendly” attempts appear to get more and more insistent – until he is nearly forcing the woman to stay.
Recently, there has been a large debate on whether or not to retire this song. The lyrics have been analyzed and interpreted in many ways. Some believe that the song is more about the woman being held back from societal norms as an unwed woman in the 1940’s staying at a man’s house. On the other hand, that idea is combatted by troubling lines like “what’s in this drink?” and “what’s the sense in hurting my pride?” Karen Tongson, a gender studies associate professor at the University of Southern California, believes “The song itself is an effort to furnish female sexuality with a set of excuses as opposed to a coercive song.” The song has been getting plenty of buzz. In 2016, a singer-songwriter couple revised the song to create a comical and consensual version that went viral.
The lyrics send a bad message, but I believe this song needs to be preserved, and not forgotten. This song is a depiction of what it was like to be a woman at the time, which is something that needs to be remembered, otherwise history may repeat itself.
What are your thoughts about this popular Christmas carol?