Jackson Rocks Bucharest

BUCHAREST, Romania —  Michael Jackson brought Western pop in all its glittering, high-tech glory to Romania, electrifying--and perplexing--about 70,000 fans at Bucharest’s National Stadium.

Jackson, dressed in black leather pants, a golden satin body suit and his trademark single glove, began the 2 1/2-hour show Thursday with a spirited performance of “Jam,” the opening cut from his newest album, “Dangerous.”

Younger members of the crowd reciprocated with the “wave,” lit cigarette lighters and shrieked. But many older Romanians, used to more sedate state-sanctioned entertainment under communism, seemed confounded.

“We are still a bit shy . . . For us it’s incredible that he’s here,” said Victoria Kiltsch, 34.

The ear-thumping concert, with its dizzying pyrotechnics and elaborate choreography, far exceeded any pop show ever in Bucharest. The five-story stage featured two giant TV screens, an elevated platform and a 25-foot globe.

Jackson capped the performance by donning a space suit and jet pack and apparently rocketing off the stage as an announcer intoned, “Michael Jackson has left the stadium.”