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Music

31st Oct 2019

John Legend records altered version of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ to promote consent

Rudi Kinsella

baby its cold outside

John Legend and Kelly Clarkson have recorded an altered version of the classic Christmas song.

Christmas FM announced in 2018 that they wouldn’t be playing the song ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ on their station, due to the controversial nature of its lyrics.

The song, which was recorded in 1949, includes lyrics from a female singer including: “The answer is no”, and “Say, what’s in this drink?”, which many perceive to be inappropriate.

Due to the controversy, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson have recorded an alternative version of the song which features lyrics that promote consent instead of the commonly criticised lyrics.

New lyrics include: “I’ve gotta go away (I can call you a ride)… What will my friends think… (I think they should rejoice.)…if I have one more drink? (It’s your body, and your choice.)”

The updated track will feature on a new version of Legend’s Christmas album, which is due to be released later in the year.

When a number of radio stations removed the songs from their airwaves in 2018, Dean Martin’s daughter criticised the decision, saying: “It’s a sweet, flirty, fun holiday song … I know my dad would be going insane right now.”

Martin had an extremely popular cover of the song in 1959.