Olivia Rodrigo’s new Christmas single “Take Me Home (4 Christmas)” uses an intentional tribute to The Waitresses’ 1981 cult track “Christmas Wrapping,” and coverage reports that she sought permission before releasing it. Sources say Rodrigo asked songwriter Chris Butler for approval, framing the similarity as deliberate rather than accidental.
The articles provide overlapping details about the inspiration and the “familiar” sound. BBC News emphasises the permission-seeking effort, while Belfast Telegraph highlights the 1980s band as the inspiration behind the song. Vice adds a more expansive angle, describing the tribute as “Christmas Wrapping” stripped of its context and noting that Rodrigo emailed Butler to ensure permission for the homage.
Across outlets, the story is presented as an example of mainstream pop drawing on a prior cult classic, with the key shared focus on The Waitresses connection and the approval process.
