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Olivia Rodrigo released “take me home (4 christmas),” prompting comparisons with the Waitresses’ 1981 song “Christmas Wrapping.” Waitresses songwriter Christopher Butler says Rodrigo contacted him before its release, calls her track an homage rather than plagiarism, and says he sees no actionable copying. His view is his own; no court finding or formal credit decision is reported.
Waitresses songwriter and guitarist Christopher Butler says Olivia Rodrigo contacted him before releasing her first Christmas song, “take me home (4 christmas)”, and he regards it as an homage to the band’s 1981 hit “Christmas Wrapping,” not a ripoff. The single drew comparisons to the older song after its release on Thursday, Nov. 5, but Butler said he heard no copying that would support an infringement claim.
In a Facebook post, Butler said he first received an email about two months before the release from someone claiming to be Rodrigo. The sender praised the Waitresses and invited him to hear a Christmas song. Butler said he checked that the message was genuine, replied positively, and later met Rodrigo with his partner, Beth, after a Columbus concert. He described the meeting as a delight and said Rodrigo had performed for more than two hours.
Butler wrote that he thought Rodrigo’s song was “great” and hoped it would be a success. After the release, he thanked her for making contact and said the songs shared an upbeat feel. In a follow-up post linking to a BBC article about the comparison, he praised Rodrigo for “doing the right thing,” referring to her reaching out before the single came out.
Responding to a commenter who said proper songwriting credit would have been appropriate, Butler argued that a similar “vibe” alone does not establish copying. He said Rodrigo’s track did not reproduce the melody or chord progression of “Christmas Wrapping” and called the resemblance non-actionable in his view. On YouTube, he also wrote: “The vibe is there, but no plagiarism—and this is from the guy who wrote ‘CW’.”
Why Butler’s View Matters
Because Butler wrote the song at the center of the comparisons, his public response offers a direct account from one of the creators whose work listeners say they hear in Rodrigo’s single. His comments also explain why he distinguishes shared atmosphere from copying specific musical material, such as a melody or chord progression.
Butler’s support does not amount to a court ruling or a formal legal determination. Still, it changes the immediate story from an unqualified accusation of plagiarism to a dispute over what the resemblance means. Rodrigo’s advance contact, as Butler describes it, is also relevant to how the two artists handled the comparison before release.
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From Advance Email to Release
The Waitresses released “Christmas Wrapping” in 1981. Rodrigo’s new track is described in the source report as her first Christmas song. Listeners compared the two soon after the single came out, and Butler’s account of his prior contact with Rodrigo became part of the discussion.
Butler said Rodrigo later invited him and Beth to the Daisy Chain Festival in Los Angeles, but the timing did not work. He said they met instead after her Columbus show, following messages from someone at her label. He also said they bought their tickets, despite offers of complimentary seats, because he has a policy of paying to see friends perform.
Butler referred to a separate infringement case involving “Christmas Wrapping” and said that case involved direct copying. He argued that similarities in “vibe” were too weak to feature in a musicologist’s written opinion. That separate case is not the same as any question raised by Rodrigo’s release.
“The vibe is there, but no plagiarism—and this is from the guy who wrote ‘CW’.”
— Christopher Butler, in a YouTube comment
No Formal Legal Finding Reported
The source report does not describe a lawsuit, formal complaint, or legal decision concerning Rodrigo’s song. Butler’s view that the track is not actionable is his own assessment; the report does not provide an independent musicological analysis or a statement from Rodrigo’s representatives about any legal review.
The report also does not say whether Rodrigo or the song’s other credited writers offered Butler songwriting credit, or whether any credit change is being considered. Butler said he believed Rodrigo or her team had consulted legal counsel, but framed that as his assumption rather than confirmed information. The extent of any musical similarities beyond the shared “vibe” remains a matter of listener interpretation in the material provided.
Whether Credits or Claims Change
No next legal step or formal credit decision is identified in the report. The immediate development is the continuing public discussion of the comparison, alongside Butler’s explicit defense of Rodrigo and his description of their prior contact.
Any later statement from Rodrigo, her label, or the song’s other writers could clarify whether credit or legal questions were reviewed. Until then, the reported facts are that the songs have been compared, Butler says Rodrigo contacted him in advance, and he does not consider the resemblance plagiarism.
Key Questions
What is Olivia Rodrigo’s new Christmas song?
It is “take me home (4 christmas),” described in the report as Rodrigo’s first Christmas song. She released it on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Why are listeners comparing it with “Christmas Wrapping”?
The songs have been compared because listeners hear a similar upbeat feel. The report does not establish that Rodrigo copied a melody or chord progression.
What did Christopher Butler say about plagiarism?
The Waitresses songwriter said the resemblance was an homage or shared “vibe,” not plagiarism. He said he heard no copied melody or chord progression that would support a claim.
Did Rodrigo contact Butler before releasing the song?
According to Butler, she emailed him about two months before release, praised the Waitresses, and invited him to hear the song. He said they later met after her Columbus concert.
Has a court ruled on whether the song infringes copyright?
No court ruling or formal legal finding is reported. Butler’s comments are his assessment, not a judicial decision.
Source: stereogum.com
