When an artist as big as Olivia Rodrigo announces a new single shortly after a major album drop, it’s guaranteed to get everyone talking. However, Rodrigo’s new holiday jam, “take me home (4 christmas),” doesn’t quite live up to expectations.
The single, released Nov. 5, 2026, follows Rodrigo’s third album release and comes right in the middle of her tour for the you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love album. Considering Rodrigo dropped her album not even five months prior in June, it was definitely a surprise to get new music from her so soon.
This is especially unexpected since Olivia usually follows the ‘one album every two years’ cycle that has slowly become an industry standard. With her last three albums receiving glowing reviews and multiple Grammy nominations, the public expected “take me home (4 christmas)” to follow suit, as Rodrigo’s artistry has only grown with time.
However, after listening to the song, it’s clear that this marks a departure from the Rodrigo standard we’ve become so accustomed to in her latest work. Gone are the contemplative lyrics, the emotion-filled pre-choruses, and the alternative spin on a classic pop trope. Instead, Rodrigo settles for a typical 2000s Christmas song that is nothing extraordinary or a standout.
The song repeats the same lyrics, with the only standout moment for me being the beginning of the bridge, and, to an extent, the chorus. I enjoy how the beat picks up in those sections from the more monotonous parts of the song, and it can even be catchy.
I just wish the verses had more substance to contribute to the song more. Without strong verses, the chorus and bridge definitely fall flat. For those playful, childlike parts to succeed, they need a serious verse to help support them, and Olivia totally misses the mark.
The vocal delivery is very underwhelming, too. It’s hard to believe that this is the same girl that delivered “Driver’s License” and “Can’t Catch Me Now,” because it feels like she was just mumbling this whole song.
As for the lyrics, the verses are once again a low point. They feel a bit crude and underdeveloped. The production is really what saves the track, and I would gladly listen to an instrumental or a cover with different lyrics and notes.
I do get some Christmas vibes from the song, and I wish Olivia had stayed in the studio and worked on it longer because I see the potential. It was just executed poorly.
Considering Rodrigo’s interest in more alternative rock, this could be a sign of her drifting away from the traditional pop scene, despite all the massive success she’s had in it.
Another thing we would be remiss not to note is the … let’s call it “inspiration” Rodrigo has taken from other songs for this track as well. It’s no secret that in the past, Rodrigo has faced criticism and even actual lawsuits for her lyrics, beats, or chords sounding similar to other artists’ work, such as Taylor Swift and the “Cruel Summer” vs. “Deja Vu” debacle.
It seemed like she was starting to put that controversy behind her, only for it to appear even more noticeably on this song. The BBC even titled their review, “Olivia Rodrigo’s Christmas song sounds familiar … on purpose.”
The article later dives into how Rodrigo took inspiration from The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping,” and how she even met with the band’s frontman to get his approval for her song. However, this revelation led to plenty of fans calling Rodrigo out for trying to get away with copying yet another song by befriending the original artist, continuing a pattern she had previously established with bands like The White Strips and The Cure.
Robbie Williams is another artist caught in the mix. Fans have pointed out that his song “Candy” sounds eerily similar to Rodrigo’s “take me home (4 christmas).” Williams even jumped on X and made a subtle jab at Rodrigo. A feud might be upon us.
I see Rodrigo’s tale as one blown way out of proportion, as I’m sure her fame has had a massive impact on the amount of attention and criticism she receives. Still, I do believe she and her team were unprepared for such an extreme reaction following the generally positive reviews about the rest of her discography.
Now, despite these critiques and thanks to some internet leaks, it’s rumored that Olivia will drop a full Christmas album soon, so stay tuned. Maybe she will finally take the number one spot this Christmas.