Collectors Music Reviews

The Royal Concert (Apocalypse Sound AS190)

Jeudong Park Amphitheatre, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei – July 16th, 1996

Jam, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, Human Nature, Smooth Criminal, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, She’s out of My Life, Jackson 5 Medley: I Want You Back / The Love You Save / I’ll Be There, Thriller, Billie Jean, The Way You Make Me Feel, Beat It, Dangerous, Black or White, Man In The Mirror, Earth Song

Before the HIStory Tour started in September 1996 Michael Jackson performed a one-off in Brunei on July 18th.  This was a free concert at the Jerudong Park Amphitheatre in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.  It was in celebration of the 50th birthday of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, and was attended by the Brunei royal family, though the Sultan himself did not attend.

The concert was taped by Nocturne Productions, Inc who were responsible for filming all of his concerts.  Apocalypse Sound use an excellent transfer.  The video is pristine and the audio very clear and enjoyable stereo. 

Much of the concert resembled Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour, including his outfit and the set list, keeping the details of the upcoming HIStory Tour a close secret.  This would be the final peformancs of “Jam“, “Human Nature“, “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” and “She’s out of My Life” at a Jackson concert (although all, except the latter were rehearsed for This Is It; the latter was rehearsed but not performed at the 1999 Michael Jackson & Friends concert in Korea). 

This concert is the live debut of “You Are Not Alone” and “Earth Song,” and although “Heal the World” was present on the setlists of both the Dangerous and HIStoryTours, it was not on the setlist of the Royal Concert.  And the singles for the upcoming album like “Scream” of course are not included.  Overall The Royal Concert is another great Michael Jackson release by Apocalypse Sound. 

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