Olivia Rodrigo has released her first official Christmas single, “take me home (4 christmas),” introducing a playful new addition to her growing catalogue. The song arrived on November 6 through Interscope Records, alongside an official music video featuring Cynthia Nixon and Ben Marshall.
Written by Rodrigo with her regular collaborators Dan Nigro and Amy Allen, the track explores the excitement of spending Christmas with someone you love. It also captures the nerves that come with meeting a partner’s family for the first time.
The release takes a different approach from the emotional storytelling often associated with Rodrigo’s music. This time, she brings humour and seasonal romance into the writing.
The song’s inspiration has also attracted attention. Listeners have noticed similarities between its sound and “Christmas Wrapping,” the 1981 holiday hit by new wave band The Waitresses.
Christopher Butler, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, revealed that Rodrigo had contacted him before releasing the song. She shared the track and spoke about her admiration for the band’s music.
Butler responded positively, praising her songwriting and arrangements. He later described the finished release as a “fantasticbangersmash” and wished her success. His reaction adds an interesting personal connection to a song that draws from an earlier generation of alternative Christmas music.
The accompanying music video gives the song an equally playful direction. Ben Marshall plays Rodrigo’s boyfriend, while Cynthia Nixon appears as his mother.
The story follows Rodrigo as she imagines being welcomed into her partner’s family for Christmas. She pictures festive activities, family gatherings and the chance to impress everyone.
However, the imagined celebration eventually gives way to reality. The video reveals Marshall still asleep on the couch, leaving Rodrigo’s festive family fantasy in her head. The casting adds another layer to the release. Nixon is widely recognised for her role in Sex and the City, while Marshall is known for his work on Saturday Night Live.
Rodrigo’s new single arrives while she continues her The Unraveled Tour, supporting her third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. The Christmas release offers a lighter moment alongside the emotional themes of that project.
With its playful writing, familiar holiday influences and entertaining video, “take me home (4 christmas)” gives Rodrigo a different way to connect with listeners as the festive season approaches.
