The following is an excerpt from ...
Taking the mic
Sunday Times
November 19, 2006
Karaoke is now the A list's favourite party pastime. Public humiliation has never been so hip, says Al Mulhall
It's 1am at an exclusive location in the heart of the East End, and Amy Winehouse, the cool queen of angsty soul, has taken to the stage in her trademark skintight jeans and rockabilly hairdo. She opens her mouth to sing, but rather than launching into her new single, Rehab, she treats the crowd to a special champagne-fuelled version of Michael Jackson's Beat It. This isn't a secret gig - it's Friday night in the karaoke room at Kelly Osbourne's 22nd-birthday party.
Everyone is dressed up to the nines, adhering to the "chavs and slappers" theme, the cocktails are flowing, there's a hyperactive stripper and a celeb crowd, and the karaoke corner is jam-packed.