UPDATE (4:32 p.m. Tuesday): KOSI 101.1 announced Tuesday that the 1944 jingle “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” will return to the station’s 24/7 holiday music lineup after they joined other radio stations across the country and pulled the song after listener complaints.
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KOSI 101.1 has joined other radio stations across the country in pulling “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from its 24/7 holiday music lineup. In a statement to Denver7, KOSI said it had received a significant number of complaints from listeners who say in the age of the #MeToo movement, the song is inappropriate and has corrupt messages of consent.
KOSI 101.1 has posted a poll asking whether it should play the 1940s tune. You can vote and see results here. As of 3 a.m. Tuesday, nearly 6,800 people had voted. About 95 percent of them voted “yes” to playing the song on the station.
A Cleveland radio station was first to pull the song over the weekend. It also posted a poll to gauge listening feedback after receiving a complaint.
“It really pushed the line of consent,” Cleveland Rape Crisis Center President and CEO Sondra Miller told a Cleveland TV station. “The character in the song is saying ‘No,’ and they're saying well, ‘Does no really mean yes?’ And I think in 2018 what we know is consent is ‘Yes’ and if you get a ‘No,’ it means no and you should stop right there.”
Here are the original song lyrics:
I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry?
Father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more - Put some records on while I pour
The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink? - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no - Mind if I move in closer?
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ah, but it's cold outside
I've got to get home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - Thrill when you touch my hand
Why don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Ah, but it's cold outside