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Olivia Rodrigo released her first Christmas song, “take me home (4 christmas),” on Nov. 5, prompting comparisons with the Waitresses’ 1981 hit “Christmas Wrapping.” Christopher Butler, who wrote the older song, said he likes Rodrigo and considers the resemblance an homage rather than plagiarism; he said he hears no copied melody or chord progression.
Christopher Butler, the songwriter and guitarist behind the Waitresses’ 1981 holiday hit “Christmas Wrapping,” has defended Olivia Rodrigo’s new Christmas single, saying he considers its similarities an homage, not plagiarism. Rodrigo released “take me home (4 christmas)” on Nov. 5, and Butler said she had contacted him before the release and later met with him after a concert in Columbus.
Rodrigo’s track drew immediate comparisons with “Christmas Wrapping,” prompting some listeners to allege that the new song copied the older one. Butler responded in posts on Facebook and YouTube, praising Rodrigo and saying the two songs share a general feel but not the musical material that would support a copying claim, in his view.
“Her song has no copy of ‘CW’s’ melody/chord progression/nothing to justify a claim,” Butler wrote in a Facebook response to a commenter who said proper writing credit would have been appropriate. He also said, “there’s nothing actionable in her tune,” while stressing that he was speaking about his assessment of the songs.
Butler said he received an email from someone identifying herself as Rodrigo about two months before the single came out. After checking that the message was genuine, he said, he exchanged messages with her and listened to the song. He later met Rodrigo with his partner, Beth, after her Columbus concert. Butler described the meeting as a delight and said he was already a fan of her music.
Butler Rejects a Copying Claim
Butler’s response matters because he wrote the song at the center of the comparisons and has publicly said he does not believe Rodrigo’s track improperly copies it. His comments give readers a direct account of how the songwriter views the resemblance, rather than leaving the discussion solely to online comparisons.
His view is not a legal ruling, and it does not establish what any court or musicologist would conclude. Still, Butler’s account that Rodrigo contacted him ahead of release, along with his public praise for the song, contrasts with allegations from some listeners that the new track should carry a writing credit for “Christmas Wrapping.”
The dispute also highlights a distinction Butler made between sharing a broad musical “vibe” and copying specific musical elements. He said a similar feel, by itself, was not enough to support a claim in this case. That is his assessment, not an independent legal finding.
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From Email to Columbus Meeting
According to Butler’s Facebook account, an email arrived about two months before the release from someone claiming to be Rodrigo. He initially doubted it was genuine, then looked into her career and replied. Butler said he liked her songwriting, arrangements, live band and willingness to be recognized as a songwriter.
Butler wrote that Rodrigo invited him and Beth to her Daisy Chain Festival in Los Angeles, but the timing did not work. He said a representative from her label later contacted him because her tour was coming to Columbus, where they met after the show. Butler said they bought their own tickets despite being offered complimentary seats.
After the song came out, Butler posted a link to a BBC article discussing the comparison and praised Rodrigo for reaching out. He also posted on YouTube that the songs had a similar vibe but that there was no plagiarism. The source report says Rodrigo’s melancholy track “miss this christmas” is available as a B-side on vinyl and cassette; it does not report an announced Christmas album.
““Her song has no copy of ‘CW’s’ melody/chord progression/nothing to justify a claim.””
— Christopher Butler, in a Facebook comment
No Independent Legal Finding Reported
The available report does not describe a formal legal complaint, a court decision or a public statement from Rodrigo about the comparisons. Butler’s view that the song contains no actionable copying is his own assessment; the report does not provide an independent musicological analysis or a legal opinion.
It is also unclear whether Rodrigo or her representatives sought legal advice about the song before release. Butler wrote that he was “highly certain” they had consulted counsel, but he did not present that as confirmed information. The source material does not establish whether any songwriting credit will be added.
No Credit Change Reported
The source report gives no indication of a legal case involving Rodrigo’s single, a planned change to its credits or a further response from her team. The immediate development is Butler’s public endorsement of the song and his rejection of the plagiarism allegations.
Any later decision about credits, formal legal steps or additional statements would clarify whether the discussion moves beyond online comparisons. For now, the distinction remains between listeners’ claims of resemblance and Butler’s stated view as the songwriter of “Christmas Wrapping.”
Key Questions
What is Olivia Rodrigo’s new Christmas song?
Rodrigo released “take me home (4 christmas)” on Nov. 5. The report identifies it as her first Christmas song.
Why are listeners comparing it with “Christmas Wrapping”?
The two songs have what Butler described as a similar upbeat vibe. Some listeners have alleged copying, while Butler said he hears no copied melody or chord progression.
What did Christopher Butler say about plagiarism?
Butler said the resemblance was an homage and that he did not believe there was plagiarism. He wrote that the new song did not copy the older song’s melody or chord progression.
Did Rodrigo contact Butler before releasing the song?
According to Butler, he received an email from someone identifying herself as Rodrigo about two months before release, later heard the song and met her after a concert in Columbus.
Has a songwriting credit been changed?
The report does not say that any credit has been added or changed. It also does not report a formal legal decision about the songs.
Source: stereogum.com
