Cool reception for ‘Cold Outside’ ban

Re There’s nothing offensive about ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’, Dec. 5 Having watched the original 1949 film clip, I’m completely bewildered by the negative reaction to the playful interaction between these two people, especially considering that it climaxes with them both — not surprisingly quite sober after barely ( and willingly ) having one sip of their drinks — smilingly and consensually singing in sweet harmony — “… oh, but it’s cold outside”. Hans Zander, Etobicoke

I strongly disagree with Canadian radio stations deleting the Christmas song “Baby it’s cold outside” from their playlists. It is a classic Christmas song that is a favourite for many, myself included. The lyrics are being over-analyzed. Are these radio stations willing to censor all songs played that have “inappropriate” lyrics for the times we live in? I have a long list of songs I feel have inappropriate and disgusting lyrics that are openly offensive to women and misogynistic. Why don’t they start with those instead? Jana Saracevic, Toronto

Several different aspects of the song “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (a winter song, not a Christmas song, by the way) are put forward in the controversy now swirling around it.

“Say, what’s in this drink?” accounts for most of the verbiage. But no-one has addressed what is the key phrase in the song, and that is, “What’s the sense in hurtin’ my pride,” sung by the man.

It makes it clear that what is essential to this guy is that he succeeds in bedding this woman. If, after expending so much effort on compliments, seductive LPs, mixed drinks and fake concern for her health (“If you caught pneumonia and died”), he fails in this stratagem and she does march off into the cold, it’s his poor precious pride that will suffer.

He pays no mind to the damaging consequences for her if she stays — public opprobrium (“There’s bound to be talk tomorrow”), shaming by her family (“My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious”) and, of course, pregnancy.

He is concerned only with his pride and self image as a Don Juan. This is no romantic fireside interlude. She is to be just another notch in his belt. J. Hardacre, Milton