Should 'Baby It's Cold Outside' be banned?

[Tomconroy]

I was thinking of putting up the Doris Day - Bing Crosby version but then remembered it's a now controversial song.
I like it. It reminds me of the great effort I had to put in when I was courting my wife, but others may disagree.

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/05/673770902/baby-it-s-cold-outside-seen-as-sexist-frozen-out-by-radio-stations

Any thoughts?

[janterry]

1. I love it

It was created as a fun song between a husband and wife (and performed that way).

My daughter (young) was all up in arms about it, but then she read about its history - and likes it, too (she's 19).

If someone wants to change the words (someone has, just google it) - fine. Times change. I don't need the words to change, because I understand the history. If others do - there are other versions out there. YMMV

[Srkdqltr]

2. I have always thought of it as word play between adults.

It can be sung with the man or woman leaving. There is no specific gender to it.

[Tomconroy]

3. Hadn't thought of that.

[janterry]

5. Watch this

through to the end (it changes up the sexes)

[Tomconroy]

6. Nice. Now you've got me wondering about same sex couples.

I'd think you'd need the contrast in voices but I'd be interested in hearing a version.

[Srkdqltr]

8. Why not?? It would still work.

[Delmette2.0]

10. OMG That's Red Skelton in the second part!

I loved his comedy show.

[Glorfindel]

4. No. It's a cute, edgy, humorous little song.

People looking for controversy can always find it. I like this version:

[jimfields33]

7. I guess with books being banned. Why not songs too?

[markie]

9. ...

[Runningdawg]

11. One of my fav Christmas songs along with "Santa Baby" there should be no ban.

[moose65]

12. Banned?

Nah. It's an old song and kinda old-fashioned, I guess. A lot of songs that get played repeatedly are much worse.

I don't know why this one gets picked on so much. It's really rather mild, IMO.

[cemaphonic]

13. Can we ban the rest of the pop Christmas canon too?

I like traditional Christmas music, but can't stand pretty much every Christmas pop hit from about 1935 on.

But to answer your actual question, I think it's kind of a silly controversy because...

1) The premise of the song is that the couple is flirting in an era of heavy double standards, and community enforcement of sexual relationships. He's not forcing himself on her.

2) Nobody is trying to actually ban the song. Some radio stations/playlist servers removed the song from their own rotation, but there is no government censorship of the song, and hundreds of covers of it are available for purchase, and on all of the big music streaming services.

[Tomconroy]

14. It's definitely been banned. A skirmish in the war on Christmas.