# What's your favorite rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023 "2009-12-12T20:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/1 "2009-12-12T20:49:02Z")
Went into Starbucks yesterday and got myself a beverage and a CD. The CD was a holiday compilation that started out with that old wintertime chestnut, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” this version sung by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. _Promising pairing,_ I thought to myself, and it wasn’t bad, but not my favorite version – that honor goes to [the Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel version on the _Elf_ soundtrack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJWSDeP4k-M). My brother, on the other hand, prefers a version Louis Armstrong did with some lady whose name I forget – a version that in my opinion takes way too many liberties with the lyrics and generally replaces smooth seduction with gravelly goofiness. I know there are a lot of versions of this song out there – why not share your favorite? Post a link if you can. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/2 "2009-12-12T21:03:10Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Went into Starbucks yesterday and got myself a beverage and a CD. The CD was a holiday compilation that started out with that old wintertime chestnut, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” this version sung by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. _Promising pairing,_ I thought to myself, and it wasn’t bad, but not my favorite version – that honor goes to [the Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel version on the _Elf_ soundtrack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJWSDeP4k-M). I actually can’t stand that version at all. I prefer [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp3UoqOkFJo) from the movie. I like Zooey well enough, but I prefer Will Ferrel’s voice with hers. I think my favorite would have to be Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson’s, although I don’t really like her voice in it. It’s ok, but a bit too breathy in the beginning. I have yet to find my perfect version. Maybe if Jason Mraz did it with Zooey Deschanel? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/3 "2009-12-12T21:13:38Z")
I liked the [original (?) version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYqKEAehPU) from Neptune’s Daughter (1949). ---
**Author:** ![Slade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Slade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slade)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/4 "2009-12-12T21:30:02Z")
The version Brian Setzer did with Ann Margaret is pretty good. Hear a brief extract here: [http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Cold-Outside-Duet-Ann-Margaret/dp/B000RG8VBM](http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Cold-Outside-Duet-Ann-Margaret/dp/B000RG8VBM). ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/5 "2009-12-12T21:32:23Z")
Just to add a few links: From [Neptune’s Daughter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYqKEAehPU) from where it won the oscar. And [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARUM0-jtjIg) is where I think I first heard the song…not the best performed version, but 70s TV was strange. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/6 "2009-12-12T21:47:49Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > …My brother, on the other hand, prefers a version Louis Armstrong did with some lady whose name I forget… Turns out the lady was Velma Middleton. Here’s a link. [Satchmo and Velma’s craptastic version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y__VA3hOqBI&feature=related) Listening to it again, I remembered that almost as much as the blown lyrics and goofy ad-libbing, I also hate how SLOOOOOOOWWWWW they sing it. Tortoise tempo. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/7 "2009-12-12T22:05:35Z")
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, hands down. I grew up on Steve and Eydie and still love them. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/8 "2009-12-12T22:21:50Z")
I haven’t heard all those versions, but I can’t imagine anything topping the Dean Martin version. I don’t know who is doing the chick part, but she’s really good too. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/crFQpOCDfEc/hqdefault.jpg "Dean Martin - Baby It's Cold Outside") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crFQpOCDfEc) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/9 "2009-12-12T23:24:11Z")
Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark. That gal could put a sexy lilt into anything, let me tell you. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/10 "2009-12-12T23:34:04Z")
I don’t have a particular favorite, just a _least favorite_ which is Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone. I can’t stand her voice. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/11 "2009-12-12T23:46:01Z")
[Rudolph Nureyev and Miss Piggy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARUM0-jtjIg) ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/12 "2009-12-12T23:48:02Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-m1T81xGw) My favourite: Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/13 "2009-12-13T00:18:55Z")
I like the version done by Vanessa Williams and Bobby Caldwell. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7uGoF4Uf6S4/hqdefault.jpg "Vanessa Williams -- "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (1996)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uGoF4Uf6S4) ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/14 "2009-12-13T00:20:38Z")
Nobody’s mentioned Blossom Dearie’s? I don’t know who the male vocalist is/was in her version, but it’s my definite favourite. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/15 "2009-12-13T00:29:00Z")
> **[Baby, It's Cold Outside](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby,_It's_Cold_Outside)** > > "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a popular song written by Frank Loesser in 1944 and popularized in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter. While the lyrics make no mention of a holiday, it is commonly regarded as a Christmas song owing to its winter theme. The song was released in eight recordings in 1949 and has been covered numerous times since. > In 1944, Loesser wrote "Baby, It's Cold Outside" to sing with his wife, Lynn Garland, at their housewarming party in New York City at the Navarro Hotel. The... Liz Phair and Wheat? That might be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Countrypolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@Countrypolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Countrypolitan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/16 "2009-12-13T00:48:48Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-m1T81xGw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-m1T81xGw) > > My favourite: Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews. OOh, seconded. Just the right amount of lech and innocence. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/17 "2009-12-13T00:55:20Z")
I’m fond of the rendition by [Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWdNY0IlQY) – two fine singers. I’d love to hear the whole song by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Anyone have a link? ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/18 "2009-12-13T03:15:56Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_hEJQbEYjRg/hqdefault.jpg "Baby It's Cold Outside - Selma Blair & Rainn Wilson") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hEJQbEYjRg) Selma Blair and Rainn Wilson! Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/19 "2009-12-13T03:46:01Z")
The version I grew up on is the Bette Midler & James Caan version from the movie _For the Boys_. ([Fifteen second snippet](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013IKTKE/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk6).) My mom had the soundtrack cassette in the car, and I probably heard that song hundreds of times. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/20 "2009-12-13T04:00:03Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_hEJQbEYjRg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hEJQbEYjRg) > > Selma Blair and Rainn Wilson! Excellent! I came in to post this one. It’s definitely my favorite. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023.md?page=2)