IIVE

Rip It Up, Issue 125, 1 December 1987, Page 44

IIVE

Michael Jackson Sydney, November2o I’ve maintained for some time that, as I was unlikely to ever have to socialise with Michael Jackson, his personal habits and idiosyncrasies are unimportant His song and dance routines are all that's relevant to most of us.

That may be as far as his recorded efforts go, but confronted with the live performance, the man proves to live his media role so well that it is impossible to ignore. All the expected genius shone through, the incredible voice, the dancing with a capital D. Lowered to the stage on a hydraulic platform, he proceeded to dazzle his adoring audience of 35,000 with Gotta Be Starting Something’ and continued with barely a pause through 'The Way You Make Me Feel’ and several more frantic numbers before dissolving into tears for ‘She’sOutof My Life.’ ‘Billy Jean,’ ‘Beat It,’ ‘Thriller,’ they were all there, and the crowd loved it... on cue.

The only technical flaw to be picked was a muddy sound. The lights, the musicians, the backup singers and dancers, all were perfect. Too perfect. Two hours of very contrived magic tricks, video-clip wardrobe (yes, the white glove did appear), laser dynamics and at least two or three faultless endings to every song. Oh yes—and via giant video screens, lots of closeups of the famous, expensive face. Good? Yes. A thriller? No. Lacking all spontaneity, it seemed to miss the whole point of what a live concert is all about. At $36 per ticket, you might as well buy the video.

Gini Goode