GREENFIELD – What do Taylor Swift and James Whitcomb Riley have in common?
Well, a few things – and lovers of Riley’s Boyhood Home in Greenfield plan to play it up.
Mr. Riley’s Taylor Swift Album Party will be April 18, just one day before the pop star’s new album “The Tortured Poets Department” will be released.
Makes sense, organizers say, since Riley was a poet and he was just about as popular as Swift was back in his day.
But was Swift actually influenced by Riley’s poems about the Hoosier lifestyle?
Probably not, says Marissa Purcell, head curator of the home at 250 W. Main St. In Greenfield.
But it sure is fun to join in the excitement and try to help a younger generation of Swift fans connect in some way to Greenfield’s famous son.
“It’s basically a party the night before her new album is going to be released,” Purcell said. “It’s to get excited before the new album comes out. We’ll have activities, some snacks and some readings as well. We’re going to obviously talk about Taylor, have someone read Taylor’s songs about poetry and have a moment where we highlight past poets as well.”
But don’t expect any presale copies of the much-anticipated album. The unofficial party is simply for fun.
Earlier this month, news broke that Swift is related to 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson. Purcell said in the late 1800s and early 1900s Riley was just about as famous as Swift is today—and they like to tell young visitors that, to help them relate to the impact he made on popular culture at the time.
“Back in his day, Mr. Riley was quite popular himself, so we’re just kind of showing how poetry, music, everything like that can tie in and show some past popular poets,” she said.
At least one of Riley’s poems was even set to music: “The Messiah of Nations” by John Philip Sousa.
Purcell came up with the Swift party idea along with Madison Ritchison, the programs and events specialist at Greenfield Parks and Recreation. Both young Swift fans, they said it was actually easy to get the older volunteers at the Riley home on board. They used to say Riley was as popular as Michael Jackson, but they’ve learned to compare the writer to Swift now for today’s generation.
“Our hope for this event is to allow the community to draw the connection between musical artists like Taylor to poetry authors like James Whitcomb Riley,” Ritchison said. “There is a sense of friendship she offers within her fanbase, and we would like to reflect that into this event.”
The event will be free. For times and updated details, check back in at facebook.com/jameswhitcombrileyboyhoodhome or call 317-462-8539.
