WATCH: ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ pulled from Christmas radio playlists because of concerns about its lyrics in the wake of the #Metoo movement. April Lawrence reports.
Made popular by the 1949 movie Neptune’s Daughter and more recently the 2003 movie Elf, the duet ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ has been pulled this year from multiple Canadian and American radio stations.
It started in Cleveland, where a local radio station said listeners found some of the lyrics inappropriate in light of the #Metoo movement.
“I was happy I feel like it doesn’t have a place anymore,” said singer Lydia Liza.
Liza took issue with the song back in 2016, and recorded an updated consensual version.
“I didn’t realize it was creepy for a long time until we started putting a language to the feelings of women coming forward with their stories,” said Liza.
But some say it’s being misinterpreted — that the woman isn’t afraid of her date but of society judging her sexual behaviour.
“The things she’s saying is my mother, my neighbours, my this and that because of that time it would be very very inappropriate for her to stay,” said musician Avram McCagherty.
And he says the lyric “what’s in this drink?” is a common expression from the time.
“Well actually that expression back then, people would be having cup of coffee and then if they said something bold they’d go oh what’s in this drink?” said McCagherty.
For some who like the song, they say if it makes people feel uncomfortable just play it at home, there are plenty of others to fill the holiday airwaves.
April Lawrence
