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Radio Bans ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ Over Claims It’s A Rape Song, English Teacher Explains Its Real Meaning
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Radio Bans ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ Over Claims It’s A Rape Song, English Teacher Explains Its Real Meaning

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The Christmas season hasn’t truly begun until the decorations go up and people everywhere are debating the problematic Christmas classic ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside.’ Well, this year one radio station took the song’s criticism one step further by banning it completely after countless listeners complained that the message behind the holiday song was inappropriate.

Image credits: CBSNews

Image credits: AndrewRannells

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But despite the outrage, one former English teacher has stood up in defense of the holiday song. In a viral Tumblr post, they explain that amid all the controversy people are overlooking, that for its time, there is something inherently feminist about it.

In the era of the #MeToo movement (and even before) it’s hard to listen to the lyrics without applying our own social subtext (super rapey), but as the author writes in their defense – context matters. The pop hit was written by Frank Loesser in 1944 and as you will read, perhaps you need to adjust your historical lens to understand the real meaning.

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    And many people agreed with her

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    Sofie Tapia

    Sofie Tapia

    Author, Community member

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    Sofie Tapia is a journalism graduate from the University of Kentucky. She is now a free-spirited content creator who wanders the globe rearranging words for various outlets. She previously worked as a reporter for Lebanon Daily News and worked as an editor at both Al-Masry Al-Youm and Egypt Independent. She can be reached at Sofie@BoredPanda.com

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    Sofie Tapia

    Sofie Tapia

    Author, Community member

    Sofie Tapia is a journalism graduate from the University of Kentucky. She is now a free-spirited content creator who wanders the globe rearranging words for various outlets. She previously worked as a reporter for Lebanon Daily News and worked as an editor at both Al-Masry Al-Youm and Egypt Independent. She can be reached at Sofie@BoredPanda.com

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    Chris Gill
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is there anything that people can't be offended by nowadays?

    marbsno
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While in a modern context, the song is truly cringey, the subtext of the song, even without knowing what "What's in this drink?" meant in the time that it was written, is pretty obvious. They both want to spend the night together, and she's worried about what people might think of her. In a way, that's also a bit cringey through modern eyes, but hardly offensive. If we start banning every song that might not fit into modern tastes, we'll have nothing left. Grow up, people.

    Todd Jones
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's nothing at all "cringey" in the song even from a modern context. Unless you're a complete r****d, or just want those pats on the back for your faux-enlightenment, there's no way you could see this as anything other than playful banter by two people who both want this to happen. Not only could she not outright say she wanted to stay, but he couldn't outright just ask her either - nor could you today, unless you want to come across as a real pig. Today's social retards raised on cellphones don't know how to do this today.

    Load More Replies...
    Bea Mee
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So they are mad by a song from an older time with a different meaning behind that words, but they are O.k. with modern rap music that blatantly disrespects and degrades women... because that makes a lot of sense.

    Ivana
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who says they are okay with modern rap music? The people who are concerned about the message the song is implying might also be equally concerned about the degrading lyrics found in much of our modern music as well.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Chris Gill
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is there anything that people can't be offended by nowadays?

    marbsno
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While in a modern context, the song is truly cringey, the subtext of the song, even without knowing what "What's in this drink?" meant in the time that it was written, is pretty obvious. They both want to spend the night together, and she's worried about what people might think of her. In a way, that's also a bit cringey through modern eyes, but hardly offensive. If we start banning every song that might not fit into modern tastes, we'll have nothing left. Grow up, people.

    Todd Jones
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's nothing at all "cringey" in the song even from a modern context. Unless you're a complete r****d, or just want those pats on the back for your faux-enlightenment, there's no way you could see this as anything other than playful banter by two people who both want this to happen. Not only could she not outright say she wanted to stay, but he couldn't outright just ask her either - nor could you today, unless you want to come across as a real pig. Today's social retards raised on cellphones don't know how to do this today.

    Load More Replies...
    Bea Mee
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So they are mad by a song from an older time with a different meaning behind that words, but they are O.k. with modern rap music that blatantly disrespects and degrades women... because that makes a lot of sense.

    Ivana
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who says they are okay with modern rap music? The people who are concerned about the message the song is implying might also be equally concerned about the degrading lyrics found in much of our modern music as well.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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