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On this day, 5 August 1992, pop superstar Michael Jackson played Cardiff Arms Park as part of his Dangerous World Tour.
The tour to promote his eighth studio album Dangerous was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's own "Heal the World Foundation".
The tour ran from June 27, 1992, to November 11, 1993, playing 69 concerts to nearly 4 million people.
During the Europe leg in 1992, MTV was allowed to film backstage and broadcast six fifteen-minute episodes of the tour.
The show was called The Dangerous Diaries and was presented by Sonya Saul. MTV released footage of "Billie Jean" and "Black Or White" at the first show in Munich.
"Billie Jean" was released with 2 different versions, one by MTV as a special, and the other on the Dangerous Diaries documentary.
Both versions have placed a snippet of Jackson's original a cappella recording for "Billie Jean" over the live vocals when Jackson throws his fedora.
Setlist
Part 1 (Following Carmina Burana "Brace Yourself" introduction)
Jam
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Human Nature
Smooth Criminal
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
(with Siedah Garrett)
She's Out of My Life
I Want You Back / The Love You Save / I'll Be There
(The Jackson 5 song)
Thriller
Billie Jean
Part 2 (Following Black or White "Panther" interlude)
Workin' Day and Night
Beat It
Someone Put Your Hand Out
Will You Be There
Black or White
Part 3 (Following "We Are The World" interlude)
Heal the World
Man in the Mirror
Live clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3WZh7XsSXY
Michael Jackson: Dangerous World Tour review, Cardiff Arms Park, August 5, 1992
YOU can’t take your eyes off Michael Jackson - and that’s his secret.
For all the lasers, lights, tricks and treats, it’s the superstar who takes the spot-light for two hours, and holds his audience in rapt attention.
There’s strangely no contact with his band, bar a sexy brush with a backing singer - he’s out on his own.
You can argue about the voice.
He rattled through Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ at a furious pace.
With his workrate you can appreciate his breathless style.
He’s moved from Motown soul, through disco to self-styled King Of Pop.
But he delivered a showstopping I’ll Be There, and a fitting climax came with Man In The Mirror, when Jackson the Singer emerged - giving his all to the pop-gospel song, falling to the stage like James Brown.
There were stunning set-pieces from the moment he sprung through the hole in the stage, from like a waxwork, showered by fireworks, and launched into Jamm.
The dance routines - especially considering the conditions - were spectacular.
Smooth Criminal was a net gangster routine - Jacko in panama and white jacket - ending in a quick-fire shoot-out.
Thriller was strangely low key, and seemed a shorter version than at Wembley last week, but Bille Jean was stunning, Jackson in glittering black suit and fedora (soon on its way to a fan in Ely) and some feet!
There are a few quibbles - an over-reliance on video excerpts, strange lulls with nothing happening between some songs, and an annoying tendency for false endings to be applied to nearly every song, leaving them in suspended animation.
And if Heal The World at least allowed a group of Cardiff schoolchildren to be close to their hero, the song itself is nauseating schmaltz in the extreme.
Jacko is at least putting his money where his mouth is, donating “considerable” sums from the tour to young people’s causes. We can only hope some of the cash from the £10 tour “brochures” are sent to Bosnia immediately.
But before that Black Or White summed up Jackson - the lyrics have a certain irony coming from the man, but it’s a brilliant song, from Jennifer Batten’s guitar riff on, and immaculately staged.
Personnel
Dancers
LaVelle Smith (choreographer)
Dominic Lucero (Asst. Choreographer- 1992 leg)
Jamie King
Eddie Garcia
Randy Allaire (1992 leg)
Damon Navandi
Bruno "Taco" Falcon
Michelle Berube
Yuko Sumida
Musicians
Musical director: Greg Phillinganes (1992)
Assistant musical director: Kevin Dorsey
Keyboards/Synthesizers: Greg Phillinganes (1992)
Drums: Ricky Lawson
Lead/rhythm guitar: Jennifer Batten (1992), David Williams
Bass guitar/Synth bass: Don Boyette
Vocalists
Vocal director: Kevin Dorsey
Background vocals: Darryl Phinnessee,Dorian Holley,Siedah Garrett,Kevin Dorsey
