If I had to make the calls I’d perform the entire new album on each date and as an encore I’d let MJ play 3 legacy hits to please the casual fans. For example bad tour = bad album + billie jean beat it and thriller, next date the exact same but a change in encore for example billie jean, rock with you shake your body.
Dangerous tour would be the dangerous album, maybe make a medley of some tracks to cut some time and in the end again 3 legacy tracks for example the way you make me feel, don’t stop till you get enough and can you feel it And then the next date you play bad, smooth criminal and thriller or whatever.
You know just play around with the setlist a bit but not too much.
I love how songs like dirty diana, don’t stop till you get enough, can you feel it or another part of me were only performed on 1 tour, that is what makes them special and my favorites to watch. I personally can’t stand watching the freaking Motown medley AGAIN, he was doing it the same way since the freaking mid 70s, at least Billie Jean kept evolving so it stayed interesting.
My real preference would have been an MJ unplugged show (not necessarily acoustic but just organic arrangements like in the good ol days). Small stage , some great background singers to harmonize with and a band like James Brown’s, let the voice shine!
I don’t really mind that performances in itself stay largely the same, just switch up the damn setlist with each tour, that is all I ask. I have seen in James Brown concerts that he performs most of his hits the same way in each concert too ( f.e. Please please please).
I can assure you the critics would have loved it, back to basics