Which Billie Jean performance was the closest to the studio version?

[Michael4MyLife]

My dream is to hear the vocal soundboard from the Motown 1983 performance. If Michael did as he habitually did, sung on top of the playback, and if there is an isolated soundboard recording available somewhere, this is a possibility. But until then, let's talk about Michael's performances, the ones who are currently available to us. Which one did he sound the closest to the record in your view? Not only the his voice and the performance itself, but also the sound of the band.

The main issue with a lot of BJ performances is being performed towards the end of the setlist when he's already exhausted. Especially during the victory tour it was the second to last song. This suggests that the Victory Tour performances could have been better if been performed earlier.

I've always loved the Cologne 1992 performance, it's amazing in every way. I was rewatching the Victory and Bad Tour performances again. I liked the Landover performance a lot. Same with Wurzburg and LA 1989. But in terms of finding a performance where he completelly nailed it, it's much harder. Which begs the question: What does one mean with "perfect"? I always wondered what his own personal favorite BJ performance was. Which made him feel most satisfied? I guess we will never know.

 

[innuendo141]

HISTory Tour band wise, just listen to Copenhagen or Gothenburg. HIStory band was easily his best sounding band, but the Munich overdubs really buried the band - and that being the most widely available show it really is a disservice to the band. Billie Jean just sounds so full and gorgeous. Beat It never sounded better than '96/'97 also

 

[Galactus123]

I don't think live Billie Jean has ever sounded like the studio version. HIStory Tour doesn't count.

 

[Themidwestcowboy]

This one

 

[LordLukas]

One thing Michael did behind the playback in Munich was try to pronounce and stretch the notes in the same way as on the album version, although he was unable to sing in tune because the laryngitis clearly damaged his voice when it came to hitting high notes (and this was obviously noticeable in the live parts). If there's an audio recording from a date where his voice was better (Copenhagen or one of the early 1997 shows ,etc), it might sound more faithful to the CD, but I doubt it because I don't know what emphasis he placed on the pitch with the playback on.

 

[Nite Line]

Munich 1992.

 

[8th wonder]

Tokyo 1987 had the best performances of many songs & I'd give it Billie Jean in terms of vocals too (East Rutherford & Nishinomiya were also great tho).

 

[Themidwestcowboy]

One thing Michael did behind the playback in Munich was try to pronounce and stretch the notes in the same way as on the album version, although he was unable to sing in tune because the laryngitis clearly damaged his voice when it came to hitting high notes (and this was obviously noticeable in the live parts). If there's an audio recording from a date where his voice was better (Copenhagen or one of the early 1997 shows ,etc), it might sound more faithful to the CD, but I doubt it because I don't know what emphasis he placed on the pitch with the playback on.

You also have to remember that he couldn’t hear his voice under the playback. It is near impossible to sing in tune without actually hearing your own voice.