Doesn't everyone secretly yearn to be a rock star? Yes, yes they do. But for most of us non-Britneys, the closest we'll get to MTV superstardom is the local karaoke bar. So why not put your best lung forward as you bestow the gift of song to your fellow Rondstat-loving brethren?

We spoke with Raina Lee, author of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Domination" for her tips on how to hit the right notes during your next karaoke performance.

Ham it up
Let's face it. You're not the world's best singer. And that's great! Because karaoke isn't about vocal chops, it's about the magic you're creating up on stage. "Karaoke is a very interactive sport," says Raina. "Your performance is all about how well you can get your audience to react."

The better the audience reaction, the better overall perception of your skillz. Flirt shamelessly with the audience. You can achieve this with any number of signature moves: jazz hands, air guitar, jazzercising (appropriate for all things "Flashdance"), dropping it like it's hot, or an intense eye-locked serenade to a bashful audience member.

Still worried that you're tone deaf? Comically employ sprechgesang, or talk-singing, a la John McCrea of Cake, Fred Schneider of the B-52's, and William Shatner. This can be used on basically any song, but the campier the better. Try it out on "Total Eclipse of the Heart," or "I Want It That Way."

Click here for more karaoke etiquette.


Choose wisely
"Sing the songs you absolutely love," Raina says. "Your passion and hours of singing in front of your bathroom mirror will really shine through." That means picking tunes you know well and in their entirety. (Most amateurs pick songs they only know the chorus to, which ends up in a lot of mumbling and then OMG-OMG-I-KNOW-THIS-PART: "SINCE YOU BEEN GOOOOOONE!") Instead of being glued to the scrolling lyrics, you'll be able to concentrate on your performance. "And if you're a good dancer, you can sing anything you want," Raina says.

What else should you skip? Anything that's too long (including "American Pie," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and anything by The Doors), too monotone, or too obscure (just because there's a karaoke version of "Under the Milky Way" doesn't mean you should sing it). And under no circumstance should you attempt anything by Björk.

Hold the liquor
Contrary to popular belief, your ability to sing only deteriorates with booze. When you're drunk, you put on the karaoke equivalent of beer goggles: beermuffs. (The opposite is true for your audience: the drunker they are, the better you sound.) Hydration is key to a lovely singing voice, and liquor is only going to dry out your pipes, so cap your tab at two cocktails and ask the bartender to keep the water coming. And about those two cocktails: skip the White Russians or any other drink that contains dairy. It causes phlegm.

Mind your manners
Yes, there's etiquette for karaoke, and lest you want to be bounced before your turn is up, here are a few things to keep in mind:

+ DON'T repeat a song someone else has already sung.
+ DON'T hog the mic, storm the stage, or invite yourself to a duet without the original singer's permission.
+ DON'T ever heckle.
+ DO applaud more enthusiastically than is necessary.
+ DON'T take yourself too seriously. This is karaoke, not "Fame."
+ DO commiserate with the hottie at the end of the bar over your shared love of "Cabaret."
+ DON'T cut the line or try to bribe the karaoke master into letting you sing ahead of others.