Olivia Rodrigo's Debut Christmas Track Wins Praise from Songwriter Chris Butler

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo released her first-ever holiday single, "Take Me Home (4 Christmas)," late Thursday night alongside a festive music video featuring actor Cynthia Nixon and comedian Ben Marshall. The song was written last summer with longtime collaborator Dan Nigro and songwriter Amy Allen. Shortly after its release, fans noted the track shared a similar spirit with the 1981 new wave classic "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. Chris Butler, the writer of the 1980s hit, stepped up to defend Rodrigo against social media critics accusing her of plagiarism, confirming there is no copyright theft while praising the new track's upbeat vibe. Butler admitted he initially thought an email from Rodrigo two months ago offering a sneak peek of the song was fake because he did not know who she was. After researching her career, he grew to admire her work, including her decision to own her master recordings and feature women in her band. Following a recent concert stop in Columbus, Butler and his wife Beth met Rodrigo in person.

Context

Holiday singles by major pop artists often spark comparisons to past seasonal classics and compete for high chart positions during the winter season. The Waitresses originally emerged from the post-punk music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s.