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Christopher Butler, the Waitresses songwriter behind “Christmas Wrapping,” says Olivia Rodrigo contacted him before releasing her new Christmas single and later met him after a concert. He praised the song and said its shared upbeat “vibe” does not amount to plagiarism, while noting that any legal infringement question is separate from his personal view.
Christopher Butler, the Waitresses songwriter and guitarist who wrote “Christmas Wrapping,” says Olivia Rodrigo contacted him before releasing her new holiday single, “take me home (4 christmas),” and he considers the resemblance an homage rather than plagiarism. His comments followed immediate comparisons between Rodrigo’s song and the band’s 1981 hit, putting the view of the original songwriter into a discussion that had begun circulating online.
In a Facebook post described by Stereogum, Butler said he received an email roughly two months before the release from someone claiming to be Rodrigo. He initially suspected it was fake, he wrote, then looked into her career and replied. According to Butler, Rodrigo said she had written a Christmas song and invited him to hear it. Butler said he listened and thought it was “great,” predicting it could do well as a holiday release.
Butler wrote that Rodrigo later invited him and his partner, Beth, to her Daisy Chain Festival in Los Angeles, but the timing did not work. He said they met after Rodrigo’s Columbus concert the previous week, after communications from someone at her label. He described the meeting as a delight and said he and Beth paid for their tickets despite being offered complimentary ones.
After “take me home (4 christmas)” came out on Thursday, November 5, Butler praised it as a “fantasticbangersmash” and said he was a fan of Rodrigo. On Friday, he shared a BBC article about the comparison and commended her for reaching out. In YouTube comments, he said the songs share a “vibe” but that he heard no copying of the original’s melody or chord progression.
The Writer’s View on the Comparison
Butler’s response adds a direct statement from the songwriter whose work listeners have invoked. He says he likes Rodrigo’s song and does not believe its similarities justify a plagiarism accusation. That is relevant to the public debate, but it is not a court ruling or an independent legal determination: Butler’s opinion does not settle any legal question about the track.
The exchange also shows how a song can prompt comparisons through its overall mood or style without, according to its original writer, copying specific musical elements. Butler drew that distinction himself, describing the “vibes” as similar while saying he heard no copied melody or chord progression. Rodrigo’s advance contact, as Butler recounts it, is part of why he regards the release as respectful rather than adversarial.
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From Advance Email to Release
“Christmas Wrapping,” written by Butler and recorded by the Waitresses, was released in 1981 and has become a recurring reference point in discussions of holiday pop. Rodrigo’s “take me home (4 christmas)” is her first Christmas song, according to the source report. Comparisons arose as soon as it was released, based on an upbeat feel that listeners associated with the older track.
Butler’s account is based on his own Facebook posts and comments, as reported by Stereogum. He has also said he is involved in a separate infringement case concerning another use of “Christmas Wrapping.” He referenced that case to explain that, in his view, a similar mood alone is a weak basis for alleging copying. That separate dispute is not the same matter as Rodrigo’s single.
““Her song was/is great.””
— Christopher Butler, in a Facebook post
What Butler’s Comments Do Not Decide
There is no reported legal finding about whether Rodrigo’s song infringes copyright, and Butler’s public approval should not be treated as one. His statements reflect his own assessment of the tracks and his account of their contact. The source report does not provide a response from Rodrigo or her representatives about the comparisons, nor does it detail any formal songwriting-credit arrangement.
It is also unclear from the reported material whether Rodrigo or her team sought legal advice before the release. Butler said he was “highly certain” they had checked for infringement risk, but that is his belief, not confirmation from the singer, her label or legal counsel. The precise musical basis for listeners’ comparisons has not been independently analyzed in the material provided.
Whether Credits or Reviews Follow
The immediate development is the continuing reaction to Rodrigo’s single and Butler’s defense of it. No legal action involving this song is reported in the source material, and Butler has not called for a credit change. Further clarification could come from Rodrigo or her representatives, or from any formal credits published for the track. Until then, the available account is Butler’s explanation of their contact and his view that the similarity is an acceptable homage rather than plagiarism.
Key Questions
Who wrote “Christmas Wrapping”?
Christopher Butler, the Waitresses’ songwriter and guitarist, wrote the 1981 song.
What did Butler say about Olivia Rodrigo’s Christmas single?
He praised “take me home (4 christmas)” and said it shares a general vibe with “Christmas Wrapping,” but he did not hear copied melody or chord progression.
Did Rodrigo contact Butler before releasing the song?
According to Butler’s account, she emailed him about two months before release, invited him to hear the song, and later met him after a concert in Columbus.
Has a court ruled on whether Rodrigo’s song is plagiarism?
No legal ruling is reported. Butler’s view is his own assessment and does not resolve any copyright question.
Source: stereogum.com
