Emma Mae Jacob & Jeremy McComb – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

Pierce Greenberg | December 19th, 2008 Email Share

Emma Mae Jacob and Jeremy McComb - Baby Its Cold Outside Songwriter: Frank Loesser.

There is no better semi-scandalous, stay-with-me Christmas song than “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” with its cat-and-mouse lyrics that paint a perfect picture of an eager young man trying to convince his lady friend to stay the night (so she doesn’t have to brave a wintry storm, of course).

To pull off a great version of this song, the two singers must have great chemistry and take a show tune-like approach to their delivery. Unfortunately, that’s what country newcomers Emma Mae Jacob and Jeremy McComb lack on their version of this modern Christmas standard. Or maybe it’s just McComb.

Jacob holds up her end of the deal by putting just the right touch of sweetness in her voice; she exudes a naive, innocent vibe that well suits the lyric. It’s easy to picture her staring out into a snowy haze, scarf in hand, contemplating whether to stay or go. Her voice brings us right into the scene.

McComb is nowhere near as convincing. Rather than conjuring up images of him grabbing Jacob’s arm, telling her to stay within his warm confines, it seems like McComb is probably sitting on the couch, with a beer, watching a ball game. Unlike Jacob, his vocal is uninterested and unconvincing. Instead of being commanding and persuasive, he is lackluster and restrained.

But maybe McComb can’t make us believe the story because he can’t believe it himself. Singing a slightly suggestive song with a 17-year-old girl is enough to make most 27-year-old men a little hesitant, and perhaps that’s where the chemistry fails.

The production here is mostly jazz-infused pop with a little hint of fiddle sweeping throughout, and this forgettable version of the song ranks just above Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey’s version (and just below Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel’s version from Elf).

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Listen: Emma Mae Jacob & Jeremy McComb – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

  1. Gabby
    December 19, 2008 at 11:33 am Permalink

    That’s Emma Mae? (in the picture above) she got a major makeover…not sure I like it that much. seems like she’s just trying to fit in with all the rest of the pop tarts.

  2. Sam G.
    December 19, 2008 at 2:05 pm Permalink

    The record executive who thought that a 27-year-old man singing a romantic duet with a 17-year-old girl was a good idea should be introduced to Chris Hansen of Dateline NBC immediately.

  3. Pierce
    December 19, 2008 at 5:05 pm Permalink

    Well, hey, back in the day Jerry Lee Lewis’s third wife was allegedly only 13 (he claims 15) and he was 23… no Chris Hansen back then, but he was pretty much blacklisted from the radio.

  4. Rick
    December 19, 2008 at 5:20 pm Permalink

    Jeremy McComb’s vocal style normally works with the songs he writes but he is a bit of a fish out of water on this one. I remember seeing some pictures in Country Weekly of Jeremy hanging out with Katie Armiger, so he seems to like being around pretty teenage country singer gals. Its shocking! (lol)

    I like Emma Mae’s new “Barbara Mandrell” hairdo and style as she no longer looks like an uncomfortable, overgrown schoolgirl as seen in literally all of her photos at her website. In the past its been rare to see her smiling in photos, so the new look is working for her. I don’t know if it will help her sell her debut album due in 2009, but it can’t hurt.

    Link: http://emmamaejacob.musiccitynetworks.com/

  5. Matt B.
    December 19, 2008 at 8:40 pm Permalink

    Rick,

    McComb didn’t write any of the singles he’s released off of his CD.

  6. Kelly
    December 20, 2008 at 4:26 am Permalink

    He did however write a few of the cuts from his current cd that he does perform quite well.

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