Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

When I first received this DVD, I completely expected poor quality because of previous reviews I read on it. But, I was taken aback at how much this looked like a bootleg (from first impression of cover art). The photos are stretched out, not crisp, and the graphics resemble something straight out of old-school Corel Draw. There are also a few misspellings on the back. Amazon (dot com) sells this footage for under $8, and since this is the only other concert on DVD (minus the many that are True bootlegs), and since none of those concerts will probably ever be officially released, this was $8 well spent.

Now, this concert footage is for die-hard fans only. I say that because the video quality is extremely poor (by today's standards), and the audio isn't that great, so unless you are a completest, you may walk away from the first few minutes of this DVD highly "P.O.'ed". Remember back when a movie would come on TV (before TiVo was a twinkle in it's mommy's eyes) and the only way to save it to view it later was to record it on VHS? And then, the playback was a lot crappier than if you had bought the VHS version in the first place? Well, that's about what this is like. It takes you all the way back to 1987 to Yokohama, Japan.....where apparently their video technology was worse than ours. Don't let me scare you off though! It's still watchable, but I want to be completely clear that this is a bit like watching a VHS cassette tape, from what I remember of them (Has it been that long! I am so spoiled by digital quality now.) The resolution is really low.

It was filmed in '87 during Michael's Bad tour at Yokohama Stadium in Japan. There's an hour of footage, and I'll go into the set list in a moment. But, first I want to give a few thoughts about the concert. It features a lot of "The Jacksons" songs, and only a couple from Bad. But, what makes this footage so special is that during this tour, he did dance a lot, but mostly he sang his heart out, really sang...giving it his all. There is no lip-syncing at all, and he's smiling a lot, which became a bit rare during his later tours. The concerts were a lot "simpler" then (no elaborate---and highly awesome---stage shows), but still incredibly entertaining. This is a Michael Jackson concert in it's purest form, and at a time when he was unstoppable and on top of the world.

Before each set, the title of the song pans on screen. the first being Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'. Michael has a handful of 80's "tough guy" (read: rocker drag queen chic) dressed backup singers (that double as dancers) and it's awesome seeing this footage and comparing it to the footage in the Bucharest DVD, for it is a lot different (when it comes to dance). He moves here, yes, but he puts more into the vocals of the song here on this set. For me, it's one of the highlights of the DVD. If you're unfamiliar with the song, it's from his Thriller album. ("I took my baby to the doctor, with a fever but nothing he found, by the time this hit the street, they said she had a breakdown, Someone's always tryin', to start my baby cryin', Talkin', Squealin', Lyin', Sayin' You just gotta be startin' somethin'...")

The next song goes back to "the Jackson's" days with Things I Do For You. (..."It's things I do for you....In return do the same for me...") This is a great performance and I like him singing this here better than when he first sang it. There is a little dancing here, and reminiscent of the time. (This song is from the album, Destiny, from 1978)

Off The Wall, a song from the album of the same name, is the next set and features the same singers/dancers all behind their microphone stands as usual while Michael comes out to the forefront often, doing small dance moves and singing lyrics such as "...When the world is on your shoulder, Gotta straighten up your act and boogie down, If you can't hang with the feeling, Then there ain't no room for you this part of town...". This is another highlight of the DVD because Michael sounded amazing.

The next set is Human Nature (from Thriller), and is a song I love to see him perform because of the movements he does with his body. He's center stage while singing "...Get me out, To the night time, Four walls won't hold me tonight, If this town, Is just an apple, Then let me take a bite...". He had such a beautiful voice and it's really evident in this song. Even though the clarity leaves much to be desired, the performance here is better than the Bucharest one, as far as voice. There is less movement here (in comparison), but this set here reminds you why you fell in love with his music in the first place.

Heartbreak Hotel is up, a song sung by The Jacksons originally, and starts out with him in a silhouette behind a curtain underneath a neon Hotel sign. Then, the late post-disco song comes into play with Michael going around the stage singing, "..Live and sin, ten years ago on this day, my heart was yearning, I promised I never ever would be returning, where my baby broke my heart and left me yearning..". Listen for the washed out electric ramblings on the guitars as this hyped-up song progresses (and notice how far music has gone since). but, it's a great performance of the song, and another highlight for me because I adore the song.

She's Out of My Life is the next set, and it's one I like to see performed because of the fan interaction (where he has one fan come on stage into his arms). Not much has changed with this performance over the years; it's a ballad and he still (with later tours) has the "falling down with emotion" bit that he does. The one thing different here is that the "lucky lady" that he chooses doesn't cling to him, or even try to. I dunno, maybe it's the Japanese politeness. (..."she's out of my life, and I don't know whether to laugh or cry, I don't know whether to live or die, And it cuts like a knife, She's out of my life...")

Up next is the Jackson 5 medley, where he sings fragments of the songs I Want You Back, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There. I'm digging this performance better than on the Bucharest DVD because he looks like he's having so much more fun. Even though he was younger when he first sang these songs, he still sounded great here (and thereafter). Bonus: he ad libs at the end to bleed into the next set.

Rock With You is up next, from his Off The Wall album. This is such a fun song, one that still sounds fresh today and begs to be sang along to. (..."Girl, close your eyes, Let that rhythm get into you, Don't try to fight it, There ain't nothin' you can do, Relax your mind, Lay back and groove with mine, You gotta feel the beat, And we can ride the boogie, Share that beat of love...")

Lovely One is the following set, a song from The Jacksons. This is a song where I like the lyrics and hearing them sang (..."Now the first time that I saw you walking down the street so pretty, Go on with your bad self, Now you say that I don't love you when it's giving my love pains, It's the hurt and tension, Girl it's driving me insane..."), but I do not like the chorus whatsoever ("You are my, you are my, You are my lovely one, You are my, You are my....etc") There is a lot of energy here, and Michael does a lot of dance moves that fit the era of the song.

Working Day and Night (Off the Wall) features Michael in a glittery black (sequined) outfit. This post-disco sounding song has lyrics such as "...scratch my shoulder, It's aching, Make it feel alright. When this is over, Lovin' you will be so right...", and it's the one where, during the instrumental break, Michael and crew spin around with their arms out. The vocals are great in this set and he adds several "whoo-hoo's" and "hee-hee's" to the song. This has never been my favorite song, but it's a great performance of it, even though there are several "false endings" before it's officially over, ending with the magic "disappearing act" (to ready for the next set) at the end.

Beat It is from Thriller, and Michael starts out like in later concerts, appearing in the air on a lift while wind blows his black coat around him. It's one of his most popular songs with lyrics like "...you have to show them that you're not really scared, you're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare. They'll kick you then they beat you, then they'll tell you it's fair, so beat it. But, you wanna be bad...". It's a super catchy tune and seems to call out to be sang and danced to. I tend to prefer the Bucharest version because he ad libs more, but this is an awesome set here. I always look forward to seeing what his guitarist, Jennifer Batten, will be dressed like during the performance of this song. she's usually draped in neon and has lasers, which was so very cool back then. This is the first set of the night that has a "stage show". (the "fight scene")

Billie Jean is another song from Thriller. There is no way to have a favorite Billie Jean concert performance because each one has something different, as far as dance moves at the end. During this set, you might notice that the camera keeps showing shots of a woman backup vocalist. That's then-relatively-unknown Sheryl Crow, but this song really could have done without her. Her "ah-ah-ahh's" are both painful to hear and watch (she makes "the ugly face" when hitting higher notes, like she's in vast amounts of pain). This is one of his all time most popular songs (featuring his signature dance move, the Moonwalk), and I doubt there's ever been a bad performance of it. This one doesn't disappoint. (Although, what does disappoint is the song title that panned underneath announcing the song as "Billy Jean")

Shake Your Body Down (To The Ground) is a song by The Jacksons originally. (.."Let's dance, Let's shout, Shake your body down to the ground..")  It has a post-disco (still elements of, but somewhat of a transition sound) /funk sound, and very upbeat. He does a lot of late 70's "The Jacksons" moves, but adds in more modern (time) moves like his side step and Moonwalk. It's one performance that I like quite a lot, especially the ending of the set.

She's Out of My Life (Bad) features a duet with Sheryl Crow. I'm not a huge fan of the song because I never liked the female vocals, here or in later performances with Siedah Garrett. Michael sounds great because he can handle these ballad-type softer songs. Sheryl here, I prefer over Siedah (as far as vocals), although I don't "love" her. ("..Each time the wind blows, I hear your voice so, I call your name......Whispers at morning, Our love is dawning, Heaven's glad you came...") It's a really pretty song, but (for me) the females tend to butcher it.

The final set is Bad. ("...Gonna tell you right, So listen up, Don't make a fight, Your talk is cheap, You're not a man, You're throwin' stones, To hide your hands..."). Everyone over the age of 20 has surely heard this song at least once in their lives, and has seen the short film or music video as well. There is a bit of audience panning here, but it is so dark, you can't see anything or anyone. Michael dances a bit here, but it's nothing very elaborate; the main focus (throughout the concert) seems to be the vocals. This is the last set, so it is drug out a bit so that Michael can make his bows to the audience and point out his band mates. Really, this performance alone is worth buying the DVD.

Even though the quality leaves something to be desired, this is still an amazing DVD. I think if you are wanting a clear, high quality Michael Jackson concert for your media collection, you should opt to purchase the Live in Bucharest DVD instead. But, this concert features Michael before his concerts were huge stage productions; it's just him on stage, singing and dancing. It's nostalgic, and as powerful of a show as the Dangerous and HIStory tours turned out to be, even if it's less elaborate. If you can stomach watching VHS quality films, then you'd really be missing out by not seeing this concert footage. (If you're a big fan of Michael Jackson, you really won't care about the quality. Trust me.)


As far as my rating goes, I want to give it four stars (even while rating the video quality) because "this is a Michael Jackson concert from the late 80's, and there are no other DVDs out there for consumer purchase with this footage on it.  This is it."  But, I don't want to dupe anyone with a high rating (that maybe didn't read the review) into thinking "oh, look! 4 stars...must be great!".  So, even though this is basically priceless (and essential, if a fan) material, because of the quality, I give the rating of 3 stars.


Thanks for reading!


Other Films you May Enjoy:

Michael Jackson Live in Bucharest (Concert)
Michael Jackson Video Greatest Hits HIStory
Michael Jackson Video Greatest Hits: HIStory on Film Volume II
Michael Jackson Dangerous: The Short Films
Michael Jackson Number Ones
Michael Jackson Moonwalker (VHS)
Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller (VHS)
Michael Jackson's This Is It

Music:

Michael Jackson This Is It
Michael Jackson Number Ones

Books:

The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation 
Moonwalk by Michael Jackson

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12