Having worked in LA for a movie studio in a former life, I’ve had my fair share of run-in’s with so-called celebrities. Now, I’m not talking about what people claim to pass for celebrities now, Christ, it seems Andy Warhol is going to have to revise his statement that everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes. Nowadays, it seems people can be famous for even the dumbest of reasons.

But I digress.

So I’m currently in Amsterdam on business. My mates and I wanted a quiet meal after a few hectic days of meetings and staying out till one (and being embarrassed by our Dutch colleagues that stayed out all night). So we decided to visit a nice Chinese place called Sichuan Food (Reguliersdwarsstraat 35), a great little eatery that does a mean, 3 course Peking Duck. Loe and behold, sitting next to our reserved table is said Mariah Carey, complete with entourage and massive bodyguard. Now, you think after completely humiliating herself at Live8 that maybe she might tone down the whole diva act.

That was not the case.

Good lord, does this woman have some pipes. The entire meal was some sort of bizarre back and forth to see which table could be the loudest, me sitting at a table with two slightly inebriated Englishmen and a Dutch, or Mariah Carey talking to her ‘people’ on her cell phone while her entourage patiently talked in lull tones and hushed whispers. Sadly, the restaurant was empty so we had no chance against Ms. Carey, as mentioned before this girl has some pipes.

I can totally respect a person in the limelight wanting to just hang out and have a dinner with her friends, but Christ almighty you might want to keep it down or even monitor what you say. For instance, would one of her handlers please kindly point out that idiocity, is not a word or a place. Also point out, that as she talks so much about livin’ in Brooklyn, that going to Compton is not that much worse. Evidently, ‘Snoop’ has envited her to come down there so she is trying to find out a polite way of saying no. Actually, I’ve been to Compton and I thought the people were quite nice.

Oh, and if you are the person who is cutting her hair, you might want to start looking for another diva.

Anyway, I can’t complain too much, I mean hey, she does have the best body that money can buy. But, if I was at home and hearing her music, I could have at least hit the mute button.