Re: So...do you guys think he could have done all 50 shows?
It's a good point. I remember people posting clips of MJ leaving Dr Klein's and clearly being drugged. It wasn't a good sign and some people here commented on it at the time. There were concerns that he had a drug problem but of course they were shot down by some.
Aside from the drug and sleep issues I think it's fair to say that a 50 year old man who hasn't toured in over 10 years and barely performed live at all in that time would be out of practise and unless they were a fitness freak already it would take a herculean effort to get back to fighting fit, even if they were sleeping properly and not taking any form of drug. I don't believe that MJ kept himself in particularly fit physical condition in his last decade, though I could be wrong, I think his lean figure was due to his sleep issue and poor diet. His performance style was very physically demanding and I've said this before, but he should have reduced the amount of dancing and concentrated on live vocals. A man in his 50s CANNOT put on the same physical show that a guy in his 20s or 30s can. It's physically impossible, yet that appeared to be what MJ was attempting to do. The result would have been disappointing to many. BUT if he had relaxed and done a good job of singing live the audience would have been forgiving. We know his vocals were still on point! I think even the critics would have been realistic and given him credit for making the right choice, but they would not forgive a 50something attempting to dance like a 20year old while miming and wheezing his way through show after show.
I also don't think MJ was putting in sufficient hours in rehearsal to to justify an argument that he was capable of doing the shows to the best of his ability. Also, it appeared to me that there wasn't sufficient time to allow him to gain the fitness he needed. Yes, I think he could have done many, many shows. Despite what I have said above I think it's even possible that he could have completed all 50 shows. The schedule actually seemed quite relaxed IMO. I think better than many residencies in Vegas. But I think his performance would have been better during those shows if he maintained his fitness throughout his life and kept performing regularly after the HIStory tour and adapted his performance style to suit his age.
Seeing him leave Kleins office 1,2,3 (how many ever times we saw) one time I believe in a wheel chair.. I do recall wondering what is he up to? To be honest I thought maybe more so getting physical work done before the tour over drug related.. that was my thought at the time!!
It's true that we could not expect a 50 year old to put on the same performance as a 20-30 year old.. But where I'll have to have a different opinion is this!
It wasn't the same show he was putting on in his 20's or 30's..
* The most obvious take on that is no touring, it was a stationary show
* The days between shows were fairly smooth
* Was not the same sped up tempo as his performances in his 20's early 30's
* the show was built in a way that he would get extra rest - you better believe that a big part of the "special effects" like various 3D films, pre recorded footage etc. was built into the show to distract fans from the fact he's resting..
Think about it this way.
Light Man - no dancing yet
WBSS
Jam
The Drill - 3D portion (rest)
TDCAU
Human Nature (slower song) - Stranger in Moscow was also rehearsed, its not clear of he was going to perform both or swap..
Smooth Criminal - 3D portion (rest) and the dancing infront green screen could have also been set for pre recording (possible more rest)
The Way You Make Me Feel
Motown Medley (that whole dance break with the dancers - Michael rests)
Rock With You
IJCSLY (slower song)
Thriller - 3D portion (rest) we don't know if the part with the black window kicks off the song or after he "disappears" (while gone resting again)
Dirty Diana - (Bed sequence slows it down physically)
Beat It (before he shows up, he's hiding/resting)
Black or white
Earth Song 3D portion (rest)
We Are The World (without Michael - resting)
Heal The World
You Are Not Alone (slower song)
Billie Jean
Will You Be There
Man In The Mirror
Plane Exit
My point is, it was really put together I way to give Michael much more rest than ever before.. Some of these 3D films were over 5 minutes long.. and these are just things we know..