Baby, It's Cold Outside

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
Song
Written 1944
Songwriter(s) Frank Loesser

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a song written by Frank Loesser in 1944. It is a call and response duet in which a host, usually performed by a male voice, tries to convince a guest, usually performed by a female voice, that she should stay the evening because the weather is cold and the trip home would be difficult.

Loesser wrote the song for his wife and himself to perform at parties. He sold the song to MGM, which used it for the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter. It was sung by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban and won the Academy Award. Since 1949 it has been covered by many singers, including Ray Charles, Michael Bublé, and Dolly Parton.

History

During the 1940s, when Hollywood celebrities attended parties, they were expected to perform. In 1944, Frank Loesser wrote "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for his wife, Lynn Garland, and himself to sing at a housewarming party in New York City at the Navarro Hotel. They sang the song to indicate to guests that it was time to leave. Loesser often introduced himself as the "evil of two Loessers" because of the role he played in the song.[1]

Garland wrote that after the first performance, "We become instant parlor room stars. We got invited to all the best parties for years on the basis of 'Baby.' It was our ticket to caviar and truffles. Parties were built around our being the closing act." In 1948, after years of performing the song, Loesser sold it to MGM for the 1949 romantic comedy Neptune's Daughter. Garland was furious. She wrote, "I felt as betrayed as if I'd caught him in bed with another woman."[1]

In the film, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" was sung by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalbán, then by Betty Garrett and Red Skelton, who reversed the roles. The song won the Academy Award.[2][3]

Lyrics

The lyrics in this duet are designed to be heard as a conversation between two people, identified as "mouse" (usually female) and "wolf" (usually male) on the printed score; they are at the wolf's home and the mouse decides it is time to go home, but the wolf flirtatiously invites the mouse to stay as it is late and "it's cold outside." The mouse states that he/she has enjoyed the time and agrees at one point to another drink, but the mouse also says "the answer is no" and tries to return home, worried what family and neighbors will think.[4] Every line in the song features a statement from the mouse followed by a response from the wolf, which is musically known as a call and response song.

Although some critical analyses of the song have highlighted parts of the lyrics such as "What's in this drink?" and the wolf's unrelenting pressure to stay despite the mouse's repeated suggestions that she should go home,[5] others noted that cultural expectations of the time period were such that women were not socially permitted to spend the night with a boyfriend or fiancé, and that the mouse states that she wants to stay, while "What's in this drink?" was a common idiom of the period used to rebuke social expectations by blaming one's actions on the influence of alcohol.[5][6]

In at least one published version the tempo of the song is given as "Loesserando", a humorous reference to the composer's name.[7]

1949 recordings

Other recordings

YearPerformerWorkSource
1957Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRaeBoy Meets Girl[11][12]
1959Jack MarshallSoundsville[13]
1959Dean MartinA Winter Romance[14]
1961Ray Charles and Betty CarterRay Charles and Betty Carter[15][3]
1963Al Hirt and Ann-MargretPersonalities[16]
1990Barry Manilow and K. T. OslinBecause It's Christmas[17]
1991Bette Midler and James CaanFor the Boys[18]
1992 Robert Palmer and Carnie Wilson Ridin' High [19]
1999Tom Jones and Cerys MatthewsReload[20]
2001Suzy Bogguss and Delbert McClintonHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas[21]
2002Brian Setzer and Ann-MargretBoogie Woogie Christmas[22]
2002Lee Ann Womack and Harry Connick Jr.The Season for Romance[23]
2003Zooey Deschanel and Leon RedboneElf[24]
2004Jessica Simpson and Nick LacheyReJoyce: The Christmas Album[25]
2004Rod Stewart and Dolly PartonStardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III[26]
2008Anne Murray and Michael BubléAnne Murray's Christmas Album[27]
2009Lady AntebellumCountry for Christmas[28]
2009Willie Nelson and Norah JonesAmerican Classic[29]
2010Chris Colfer and Darren CrissGlee: The Music, The Christmas Album[30]
2011Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams[31]
2011She & HimA Very She & Him Christmas[32]
2012Cee Lo Green and Christina AguileraCee Lo's Magic Moment[33]
2013Kelly Clarkson and Ronnie DunnWrapped in Red[34]
2013Jimmy Fallon and Cecily StrongSaturday Night Live[35][36]
2013Lady Gaga and Joseph Gordon-LevittLady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular[37]
2013Martina McBride and Dean MartinThe Classic Christmas Album[38]
2014Seth MacFarlane and Sara BareillesHoliday for Swing[39]
2014Idina Menzel and Michael BubléHoliday Wishes[40]
2014Darius Rucker and Sheryl CrowHome for the Holidays[41]
2014Virginia to Vegas and Alyssa Reid[42]
2016Brett Eldredge and Meghan TrainorGlow[43]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Loesser, Susan (1993). A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser and the Guys and Dolls in His Life, A Portrait by His Daughter. Hal Leonard. pp. 79–81. ISBN 1-55611-364-1.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 134. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. 1 2 Inman, Davis (19 December 2011). "Ray Charles and Betty Carter, "Baby, It's Cold Outside"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ↑ Riis, Thomas Laurence (January 1, 2008). Frank Loesser. Yale University Press. pp. 71–73. ISBN 0300110510.
  5. 1 2 Marya Hannun (December 19, 2014). "'Baby It's Cold Outside' was once an anthem for progressive women. What happened?". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Listening While Feminist: In Defense of 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'". Persophone Magazine. December 6, 2010.
  7. ↑ Feinstein, Michael (June 29, 2010). "Fresh Air Celebrates Frank Loesser's 100th Birthday43". Wbur.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ Loesser, Lynn & Loesser, Frank (December 16, 2017). "Baby It's Cold Outside". Retrieved December 16, 2017 – via Internet Archive.
  9. 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940–1955. Record Research.
  10. ↑ "Homer And Jethro With June Carter – Baby, It's Cold Outside (With Apologies To Frank Loesser)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Boy Meets Girl: Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae". SammyDavisJr.info. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  12. ↑ "'Baby, It's Cold Outside': You choose the best version". Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Soundsville". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  14. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "A Winter Romance". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  15. ↑ Ginell, Richard S. "Ray Charles & Betty Carter". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  16. ↑ Bush, John. "Personalities". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Because It's Christmas". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  18. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "For the Boys". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "Ridin' High (Robert Palmer album)". Wikipedia. 2018-02-01.
  20. ↑ Wolff, Carlo. "Reload". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  22. ↑ Horowitz, Hal. "Boogie Woogie Christmas". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  23. ↑ Widran, Jonathan. "The Season for Romance". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  24. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Elf". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  25. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "ReJoyce: The Christmas Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  26. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 3". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  27. ↑ Sterling, Todd. "Anne Murray's Christmas Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  28. ↑ "Baby, It's Cold Outside". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  29. ↑ Roach, Pemberton. "American Classic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  30. ↑ "Hot 100: Week of December 25, 2010". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  31. ↑ Gunter, Barrie (July 24, 2014). "I Want to Change My Life: Can Reality TV Competition Shows Trigger Lasting Career Success?". Cambridge Scholars Publishing – via Google Books.
  32. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "A Very She & Him Christmas". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  33. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "CeeLo's Magic Moment". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  34. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Wrapped in Red". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  35. ↑ McGlynn, Katla (December 22, 2013). "Their Version Of 'Baby It's Cold Outside' Is So Much Better". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Jimmy Fallon's 'Baby It's Cold Outside' SNL Duet Has Hilariously Cold Modern Twist". Mediaite. December 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Watch Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett Sing Gorgeous 'Baby It's Cold Outside' Duet in New Commercial". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  38. ↑ Leggett, Steve. "The Classic Christmas Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  39. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Holiday for Swing!". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  40. ↑ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. December 20, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  41. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Home for the Holidays". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  42. ↑ "Chart Search Virginia to Vegas". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  43. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Glow". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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