Customer Reviews

Michael Jackson - Live in Japan

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

I wanted to see concert footage other than the all too well known Bucharest dvd with footage that showed more of the audience than Michael and his band (except when they were doing dance moves.) While that DVD is good it's not the Michael I like to see performing nor the Michael I am used to seeing perform. This particular DVD concert footage doesn't have the familiar song lineup. Not too much out the norm but there are songs from the J5 days. Not just the cute little J5's medley (I'll be there, I want you back, The love you save, etc.) but the young adult J5's. Songs like 'It's the things I do for you', 'Shake your body down', 'Lovely one' and 'Heartbreak Hotel'.

This is more of the type of concert I like because he not only danced his butt off but he sings too. Many people forget he could actually sing...and well! He mixes up his dance moves but he doesn't forget to sing here and it's a real treat. Although, by the time he gets to 'Billy Jean' he's a little winded from all the dancing but quickly recovers for a very entertaining, loonngg 'Shake your body down'. In my opinion, I see him smiling more here than any other concert footage I've seen since he was a shorty. He seemed to be having a good time here, egging the audience on to participate in a Whoo hoo fest! Or having back and forth vocal exchanges with his background singers.

Now with all this praise you may be wondering why I didn't give this dvd 5 stars. Well, it's the clarity, plain and simple. The sound is okay but it looks as if someone recorded this onto a VHS tape, put that recording onto another VHS and then copied the copy onto DVD with stereo sound. If you feel you need clarity to enjoy your concerts, then this is definitely not the one you should buy. I must admit I was very pissed because I think the concert as a whole is great but to see it in such a 70's format in this digital age is ridiculous.

I don't know who thought this was good enough to put out on the market but who ever it is needs to be shot. Twice! I set out to purchase this before Mike's passing was announced. Although, I am not happy with the way this views I am glad I purchased it. Bottom line; After watching this concert, it's understood why the brother could self assuredly say, 'I'm Bad' and no one could argue that fact!

RIP 'MJ didn't play'

Been a Michael fan as long as I can remember hearing the Jackson Five. I'm guessing aroung 1975. I've seen Michael perform a song or two live over the years, but other than the very short Destiny Tour on VHS, and the lip-synched Dangerous DVD, this is by far the best Michael concert I've ever seen. Michael sings very well with absolutely no lip-synching at all. The band is tight, the dancers are on point. Michael looks good and healthy, and is in fine form. Great energy from him throughout, especially given the often rapid pace of his dancing and singing. Set list was the best I've ever personally seen from him. Dangerous Tour DVD had too many songs I didn't really care for. This is the Michael I know and loved. I will admit the picture quality could have been better. There were a few brief minor gliches and lasted maybe a split second. For the most part everything looked good. There were enough close-ups for me personally. No 5.1 audio, but the stereo sound played well on by tv and sound system. Well worth the relatively low price far as I'm concerned. My dvd player has been wearing it out since I got it. Might even watch it again tonight. I especially loved his show closer performance of the song Bad. He knocked-it-out-the-park on that song, even going down close to the audience. There is another dvd of this concert that cost about $20. Packing looks better online, but not sure if the quality is any better. Money is tight right now, so I bought this one. I'm glad I did! I simply believe any true Michael fan should have it. This is Michael at the top of his game pure and simple. Proved to me that few, if any, did it better. RIP Michael!

I enjoyed watching Michael Jackson perform some of his all-time greatest hits. This DVD contained outdoor concert performances during Jackson's 1987 "Bad Tour." Michael performed two concert dates while he was in Yokohama, Japan. (Note: Michael's "Bad" album wasn't released until August 31, 1987 which contained the song, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" -- towards the end of "Shake Your Body Down," a caption was listed for Yokohama Stadium, Sept 26, 1987). The "Bad Tour" was Jackson's first solo tour (without his brothers), so this concert footage clearly wasn't recorded in "1985." Michael's magical showmanship is undeniable during his energetic performances.

Sheryl Crow is featured as one of Jackson's back-up singers. She accompanied Michael in a duet, singing "I Just Can't Stop Loving You." I thought they performed well together on stage. The DVD's overall picture and sound is not top quality, but its still worth it to have in your Michael Jackson collection. The DVD footage captured a piece of history and I personally consider it as memorabilia, which can be passed down to future generations. There will never, ever be another Michael Jackson. He may have left the world physically; however, his music, spirit, and legacy will last forever. Rest in Peace.

This is a great DVD from the 1987 bad tour live in japan. This is NOT from 1985 as the description says.

This is actually a Great quality bootleg from a Japanese performance from the 1987 tour.It was one of the earlier shows from the tour hence some if not most of the same setlist as the victory tour a few years before.

The picture quality is a little dark (its from the 80's) but i would definitely rate this DVD higher than the OVERRATED bucharest dvd.Lots of shots of michael and the band with multiple camera views.

Audio Quality is very crisp and clear.Don't expect the most current up to date 5.1 dolby digital sound or DTS. This is a VERY good stereo sound which sounds GREAT.


If you are a MJ fan PLEASE do yourself a favor and buy this DVD of michael in his prime in terms of life perfomance.

If only there was an official or high quality bootleg floating around of a later bad tour to compare setlists and quality of the show. (Later Bad tour setlists contained more songs from the Bad album)

This is a great DVD! The person who said this was a hand filmed bootleg was totally wrong. It's obvious that this was professionally filmed from multiple cameras.

Sure the quality isn't the best, but for crying out loud, it's $ 7.49 people!
Some folks simply don't understand what it means to a true fan to see a concert from an artist they love when they were performing at their peak. The year was 1985 and Michael was totally unstoppable.

For the cost of a Burger King meal you can own an important concert from a historical and musical perspective, and one that I consider a "Must Have" for the true Michael Jackson fan.

Dont buy this. The songs were there and so was Michael but the footage was so so so bad. I dont think it ever appeared as a VHS in the first place. I believed it was bootlegged by a group that called itself the Crane Crews, the guys who probbaly held the cameras during the concert. I just bought it today from a shop here in Singapore and am kicking myself for it.The Bucharest concert is better.

I looked forward with great anticipation to watching this DVD. It turned out that this was Michael Jackson at the top of his game. The concert was recorded by a television network in Yokohoma, Japan in 1987. Although concert footage was not the same nearly 25 years ago as it is today, this DVD sounds great and Michael and his band are truly in top form. Especially enjoyable was "Beat It", "Thriller" and the incredible and touching duet he does with then virtually unknown back-up singer Sheryl Crow on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". At the price of less than $10, this is the best deal on a greatest hits collection available today. Buy it, watch it, enjoy this cool piece of Michael's recorded legacy.

Some reviewer said the quality of the DVD was not good BUT mine is very good! It's not HD but it's great for a tour captured on film around 1985. It appears to me to be a Japanese TV shoot with all angles from the audience to the stage itself. Close-ups of MJ putting heart and soul (as in "She's Out of My Life")into his performances make this a wonderful piece of MJ concert history. Remember this was the BAD tour, it has some songs not in later tours, like "Heartbreak Hotel", love it! This Bad concert is not as complicated or extravegant as the Dangerous or History concerts. Dangerous is probably the greatest concert ever conceived. But this Bad concert is more intimate and the duet with Cheryl Crow near the end is worth the low price of the DVD by itself!

I own this DVD, and it is worth it. If you went to see the Bad tour, and you enjoyed yourself...get it! Yes, the quality is below today's HD/Blu-ray standard, but it is standard for the late 80's. The editing is a bit choppy in parts, and I hate the visual effect throughout the Thriller song, but I'll live. This is a great concert video, and from a female perspective it's nice to see him when he still had some meat on his bones...LOL.

Lots of Michael dancing his booty off, and not the fainting, screaming, and promoting his self proclaimed king title crowd shots from Europe. This is the Michael I remember seeing in concert. With that said, bear in mind that this DVD includes "songs only" from the concert; no dialogue, no on stage costume changes (which he did on this tour), etc. Still waiting for that Victory Tour to be released one day!

This is concert footage from that Bad Tour which wasn't clear when I ordered the DVD. I was skeptical when I read that it was bootleg footage. This is not the case and while the quality isn't 21st century standard quality, it is representative of the late 80s. All in all I am very happy with Live in Japan. It shows Michael at the peak of his career and was a lot of fun to watch. I definitely would recommend this to any Michael Jackson fans!