There really is nothing like a performance from the King of Pop. Michael Jackson was a hit machine, but he was also a master of the live arena, where his unmatched charisma, dance, and vocals shined. Fans got to enjoy watching the master at work during his performance of “Smooth Criminal” on July 6, 1997, at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany. In front of a sold-out crowd of 150,000 screaming fans, Jackson gave one of the finest performances of his career.
The video attracted 139 million views on YouTube, making it the most popular live cut of “Smooth Criminal.” Jackson pulled out all the stops for the show, acting out a mobster style intro, complete with Tommy gun and fireworks. When the iconic synth riff drops in, he begins a precise and groovy dance performance. It’s quite amazing to watch him pull off the vocals so flawlessly while performing such a complicated dance routine. There’s a reason why he’s called the King of Pop, folks.
Be sure to check out Jackson’s iconic forward-leaning dance move at 4:18 in the video, which he does over the guitar break in the bridge. Fans raved about Jackson’s live show online, adding comments such as “Every time I see a Michael Jackson performance, I am reminded how talented he was. Such a great singer, dancer, performer, entertainer” and “Until this day, there’s no artist who generates as much anticipation, energy and electricity in an audience. Jackson is sorely missed.”
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The recording was captured on Jackson’s HIStory tour, which was his third and final solo world tour. Jackson performed to 4.5 million fans over the course of the tour, which included 82 concerts and spanned five continents. Jackson’s two concerts in Munich were recorded for a planned DVD release. The singer, however, shelved the DVD as he was recovering from laryngitis at the time. It’s incredible how well he sang despite this. Another hit performance from the Munich shows is “Billie Jean.”
It’s a tad surprising that Jackson had only completed three solo world tours across his long-running career. Following the end of the HIStory tour on October 15, 1997, Jackson took an extended break from touring. He had planned to return to the stage with a 50-concert residency at the O2 Arena in London in 2009. However, Jackson died on June 25, 2009, just 18 days prior to the planned start of the residency. This leaves the HIStory tour as the final legacy from the King of Pop’s live shows.
If you would like to hear more from the King of Pop, you can subscribe to Michael Jackson’s YouTube Channel for more incredible music. For additional updates and information, visit his official website.