TL;DR
Christopher Butler, the Waitresses songwriter behind “Christmas Wrapping,” says Olivia Rodrigo contacted him before releasing her new Christmas single and later met him in Columbus. He called “take me home (4 christmas)” an homage rather than plagiarism, saying it shares a vibe with the 1981 song but not its melody or chord progression.
Christopher Butler, the songwriter and guitarist behind the Waitresses’ 1981 song “Christmas Wrapping,” says Olivia Rodrigo’s new single “take me home (4 christmas)” is an homage, not a ripoff, after listeners drew comparisons between the songs. Butler said Rodrigo contacted him before the release and met him after a Columbus concert, and he publicly rejected the suggestion that the new track copied the older song’s music.
Get audio and creator gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Rodrigo released “take me home (4 christmas)” on Thursday, November 5, according to the source report. It is described there as her first Christmas song. The track prompted immediate comparisons with “Christmas Wrapping,” the Waitresses’ new wave hit written by Butler. The report says some listeners accused Rodrigo of plagiarism, but Butler responded on Facebook and YouTube to push back on that criticism.
In a Facebook post, Butler said he received an email about two months before the release from someone identifying herself as Rodrigo. He initially suspected it was fake, then researched her career and replied. He said Rodrigo told him she had written a Christmas song and invited him to hear it. Butler described the song as “great” and said he was pleased to meet Rodrigo after her Columbus show the previous week. He also said he and his wife, Beth, bought their tickets rather than accepting complimentary ones.
After Rodrigo’s single came out, Butler called it a “fantasticbangersmash” and wished her success. In a reply to a commenter asking about songwriting credit, he said the track had no copy of “Christmas Wrapping’s” melody or chord progression. Butler also wrote that the similar “vibe” was not enough, in his view, to support a plagiarism claim. His comments are the songwriter’s assessment; the supplied report does not cite an independent legal review or a court finding about Rodrigo’s track.
Why Butler’s View Matters
The response comes from the writer of the song at the center of the comparisons, giving readers a direct account of how he views the musical resemblance and Rodrigo’s approach. Butler said she reached out before release and later met him, details that distinguish his response from a general reaction to the single.
His comments also make a clear distinction between similar atmosphere and copied musical material. That distinction is Butler’s opinion, not a legal ruling. Still, his public support challenges claims that the comparison alone establishes plagiarism, while leaving listeners free to hear similarities for themselves.
Products Worth Considering
DJI Mini 3 Drone with DJI RC and 3-Axis Gimbal
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station with 200W Solar Panel
Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 64GB with 11-Inch Color Display and Premium Pen, Graphite
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Email to Columbus Meeting
Butler’s account places the first contact roughly two months before the song’s release. He said the initial message praised the Waitresses and asked him to hear Rodrigo’s Christmas song. After he verified who had contacted him, he replied that he liked her music and would be honored to listen. He later said an invitation to meet at a Los Angeles festival came too close to the date for him to attend, but Rodrigo’s tour brought her to Columbus.
On Friday, Butler shared a BBC article about the influence of “Christmas Wrapping” on Rodrigo’s song and praised her for what he called doing the right thing. He also commented on YouTube that the songs had a similar vibe but that there was “no plagiarism,” identifying himself as the writer of “Christmas Wrapping.” The report notes that he contrasted Rodrigo’s track with a separate Gwen Stefani Christmas song from the previous year, but that is Butler’s separate criticism, not evidence about Rodrigo’s song.
“The vibe is there, but no plagiarism—and this is from the guy who wrote ‘CW.’”
— Christopher Butler, in a YouTube comment
No Legal Finding Is Cited
The supplied report does not identify a lawsuit, formal complaint, or legal determination concerning “take me home (4 christmas).” Butler said he believed Rodrigo or her representatives had sought legal advice, but that is his speculation; the report provides no confirmation from Rodrigo’s team or legal counsel. It also does not provide a musicological analysis comparing the recordings. The extent of any formal writing-credit arrangement is not detailed in the material provided.
The report mentions a separate infringement case involving “Christmas Wrapping,” but gives no further information about that matter. It should not be confused with the response to Rodrigo’s song. Butler’s comments address his own view of the new single, not the outcome of that separate case.
The Single’s Reception Continues
Rodrigo’s Christmas single is now available, and the source report describes ongoing discussion of its relationship to “Christmas Wrapping.” No additional statement from Rodrigo, her label, or a music-rights authority is included in the supplied material. Unless further information emerges, the public record described here remains Butler’s endorsement and his explanation that he hears a shared vibe, not copied melody or chords.
The report also notes a separate Rodrigo holiday track, “miss this christmas,” described as a melancholy B-side available on vinyl and cassette. It does not report a full Christmas album announcement; a comment about one on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” was said to have been a possible misspeaking. Whether Rodrigo will release more holiday music is not established by the source.
Key Questions
Who wrote “Christmas Wrapping”?
Christopher Butler, the Waitresses’ songwriter and guitarist, wrote the 1981 song, according to the source report.
What did Butler say about Olivia Rodrigo’s Christmas single?
He said “take me home (4 christmas)” has a similar vibe to “Christmas Wrapping” but does not copy its melody or chord progression. He called it an homage and said he supports Rodrigo.
Did Rodrigo contact Butler before the song came out?
Butler said she contacted him roughly two months before release, told him she had written a Christmas song, and invited him to hear it. He also said they met after her concert in Columbus.
Has a court ruled on whether Rodrigo copied the song?
The supplied report cites no lawsuit or court ruling about Rodrigo’s single. Butler’s comments are his own assessment, not a legal decision.
Is “miss this christmas” part of a Christmas album?
The report describes it as a B-side available on vinyl and cassette. It does not confirm a Christmas album; a TV comment suggesting one may have been a mistake.
Source: stereogum.com
