You can now watch Kelly Clarkson and John Legend perform their new “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” duet all about consent
Update, December 4th, 1:35 a.m. ET: Kelly Clarkson doesn’t care that people think she “ruined Christmas.” (For the record, we don’t think that, Kelly.) On The Voice last night, December 3rd, Clarkson and fellow judge John Legend performed their modern, consent-focused take on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” It may have warmed our chilly winter hearts.
No matter what you think about switching up traditional Christmas music, you have to admit that John Legend, his festive pants, and his beautiful voice singing “it’s your body, your choice” causes feelings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAIziSMJEc
Kelly, thanks for reminding us to fire up your Christmas album, Wrapped in Red.
Update, November 8th, 10:20 a.m. ET: ‘Tis the season to be progressive. Our new favorite holiday song is officially here, and we’re already listening to it on repeat. Today, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson’s new version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” was released. We’re obsessed, not only because these two iconic Voice coaches are collaborating, but also because they put a much-needed modern spin on a problematic Christmas classic.
We knew Legend and Clarkson had changed many of the lyrics to “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” but we didn’t realize just how much they changed, and we’re loving every single lyrical tweak. You’ll just have to listen for yourself to hear what we mean, and prepare to hear this version throughout the entire holiday season.
Original post, October 29th: The holiday season is all about celebrating with family and friends, watching festive rom-coms, and coming to the horrible realization that “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”—that sweet, nostalgic holiday tune played in every mall across America from November to January—might actually be about date rape. Thankfully, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson are releasing a cover of the Frank Loesser classic, which is awesome news in itself. But even better, they’ve tweaked those problematic lyrics.
In his cover story interview with Vanity Fair, Legend revealed that he and Insecure writer Natasha Rothwell updated the lyrics to clearly state sexual consent. He and fellow Voice judge Kelly Clarkson then recorded the 2019-friendly duet, which will be featured on Legend’s upcoming holiday album A Legendary Christmas: Deluxe Edition.
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which was written in 1944, takes the form of some (quote-unquote) playful banter between a man and a woman at a party. In a nutshell, the woman is pretty drunk and thinks she should go home, but the man is insistent that she stays with him and argues against every single one of her repeated protestations.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4KogwllGrD
For example, here are real, actual lyrics from the original version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”:
Woman: “I really can’t stay.”
Man: “Oh baby, don’t hold out.”
But one of the most problematic lines is when the woman questions what’s in her drink, which, as modern listeners have pointed out, could imply date rape. Of course, it’s important to remember the context in which the song was written. Some journalists have even launched feminist defenses of the song, noting that modern listeners overlook the indication that the woman wants to stay the night, but societal expectations won’t allow her to act on her desires.
Still, the general consensus states that “Baby It’s Cold Outside” doesn’t hold up. It’s lyrics like “Say, what’s in this drink?” that impelled a Cleveland radio station to ban the song from rotation last year, and for Legend to reclaim the beloved song to suit the #MeToo era.
An updated verse in the Legend-Clarkson duet, for example, goes like this:
Clarkson: “What will my friends think…”
Legend: “I think they should rejoice.”
Clarkson: “…if I have one more drink?”
Legend: “It’s your body, and your choice.”
And another verse goes:
I really can’t stay (baby it’s cold outside)
I’ve gotta go away (I can call you a ride)
This evening has been (so glad that you dropped in)
So very nice (time spent with you in paradise)
My mother will start to worry (I’ll call a car and tell ’em to hurry.)
Now, this is a classic fit for the new age.
In addition to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” 2.0, the deluxe edition of A Legendary Christmas will feature three new tracks: “This Christmas,” “My Favorite Things,” and “Christmas in New Orleans.” The full album will be released on November 8th.