SIX OF THE BEST: Michael Jackson

As fans gather outside London's o2 Arena in anticipation of Michael Jackson's announcement of his first series of gigs in 13 years, we take a look back at Six Of The Best performance videos of the undisputed King Of Pop in our semi-regular feature.

6. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Heartbreak Hotel and Another Part Of Me (1988)



This brief selection of clips are cropped from a 1988 TV special celebrating the 'Bad' world tour's stop in Tokyo. The tour was a massive success - the second highest grossing of all time - and it's easy to see why. No performer in the 21 years since has captured the world's imagination like Michael Jackson did here, at his creative peak.

5. Give In To Me (1993)

Click to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-CcqOe9WWU

Okay, it's not technically a live performance - the 'concert' footage was shot in Germany in a couple of hours flat. All the same, this is a visually stunning acommpaniment to one of MJ's most hard-driving rock songs, backed up by Guns N' Roses alumni Slash, Teddy 'Zigzag' Andreadis and Gilby Clarke.

4. Stranger in Moscow (1996)



This performance from Jackson's last signifcant run of concerts, the 1996-97 HIStory tour, displays his eye-popping dance skills, still at the peak of their powers. Unfortunately much of the tour's vocals were lip-synced due to an unfortunately timed throat infection. Nonetheless, 'Stranger In Moscow' remains one of the most powerful and underrated songs in Michael's canon.

3. Smooth Criminal (1992)

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Performing this undisputed classic in front of a near-hysterical crowd in Bucharest, it's show-stopping moments like this that earned Michael Jackson the title of World's Greatest Showman.

2. Medley: American Bandstand (2002)



From American Bandstand, around the time of the commercially and critically disappointing 'Invincible' album (Jackson's last to date), this relatively recent performance captures a surprisingly agile Michael, far from the 'shadow of his former self' that the tabloids so fervently paint him to be. Of course, fans and haters alike will be eager to see whether the 50 year old legend can still cut it in 2009, after so long away from the stage.

1. Medley: Motown 25 (1983)



The very first moonwalk performance, televised around the globe. Word's can't do justice to this legendary performance, so just sit back and watch history in the making.

Take a look at 'SIX OF THE BEST: Roy Orbison' by clicking here.