Mariah wrote the song “Twister” with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and included it on the Glitter movie soundtrack, released in 2001. Though it has never been confirmed by Mariah herself, the song is said to be a tribute to her former stylist, Tonjua Twist, who committed suicide in 2000. “The Tonjua I knew was the life of the party,” Mariah told Us Weekly. “She had an incredibly uplifting personality that must have been covering a lot of sadness.”
She was kind of fragile
And she had a lot to grapple with
But basically she kept
It all inside
Childlike and effervescent
With a well of pain
The depth of I could not imagine
If I tried
Never thought that I
Would hear them say
Twister went and threw it all away
She was kind of magical
Her laughter sent you casually
Floating through a moment
Of release
Dear God, it's all so tragic
And I'll never have the chance
To feel the closure
That I ultimately need
No, I never dreamed
That there would come a time
Twister'd go and leave it all behind
Lord I pray she's found some peace
And her soul's somewhere at ease
Yeah I'm feeling kind of fragile
And I've got a lot to handle
But I guess this is my way
Of saying goodbye
Written by Mariah Carey, James Harris III, Terry Lewis.
Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Mariah Carey. Co-produced by James “Big Jim” Wright.
