My Ode To Coleen Nolan

My Spotify unwrapped reminded me as if it were needed how I’d discovered the crazy and wonderful world of The Nolans this year. As I idly scanned YouTube I was reminded how Coleen Nolan was my first celebrity crush. I’m not normally one for poetry but an ode began to form as memories of Saturday night telly with my Dad before Match Of the Day became something new and exciting if The Nolans and especially Coleen were performing. This is my ode to Coleen Nolan

T’was a Saturday night on the telly

With Cliff or was it Lena?

You were in the mood for dancing

And I couldn't have been keener

As my eyes caught my father's

I realised I'd been seen

Dad winked and opened his paper

That night I fell for Coleen

When would you be on the telly next

And what would you be wearing?

Green or gold or navy blue

Demure or maybe daring

A Christmas special all in red

What's this? I'm just fifteen.

Dad just coughed and rolled a fag

Now I knew I loved Coleen

Both born in 1965

A date that we could share

We were meant to be together

If we met I knew you'd care

The park, the shops or on the bus

The train or school canteen

Dad said “just stop your dreaming”

I might never meet Coleen

5 years on I was a man

You'd disappeared from telly

Then there you were with Richie Rich

Eddie Catflap and Ralph Filthy

Messing about and being cool

You're back, where have you been?

Dad had never stopped caring

What I thought about Coleen

This year I went back 40 years

And discovered quite a story

Linda, Maureen, Anne, Denise

Mum, Dad, God bless her Bernie

Your story left me open mouthed

I don't want to seem mean

Dad knew Shane was a wrong’un

And no good for my Coleen

Your music and your singing

Sibling harmonies to treasure

Set all my senses zinging.

This is no guilty pleasure

Portrait’s a lost masterpiece

I couldn't have foreseen

Dad surely would have loved it

And my singing queen, Coleen

So much has happened to us both

Since I first saw you on our screen

In your sexy disco pants

A young man's fantasy

Now you’re a loose woman

As once in that young man's dream

Dad's gone now but he'd approve

Of my ode to you, Coleen.