Bad Memories (6): Love of the BAD era
The Way You Make Me Feel is one of the very successful songs from the Bad album. The song topped all three Billboard charts—Billboard Hot 100, Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop, and Billboard Dance Club—at number one.
Michael wrote the song and recorded it with Quincy Jones in 1987. The single was released in November 1987. The song received good reviews from music critics. For example, Rolling Stone called it the third-best song on the album, and The Washington Post wrote that Michael sings the way he dances. That’s right—Michael always danced with his voice. The song was performed on all three of Michael’s solo tours, and it was also supposed to be performed on the This Is It tour.
Michael made an interesting video for this song, featuring model Tatiana Thumbtzen. The video caused a sensation, and ever since then, many artists have taken inspiration from it.
Whenever people talk about TWYMMF, without thinking, minds go straight to Michael’s live performance of this song at the Grammys. In the coming days, Michael’s full performance at this event will be available for download on this same page—but before that, let’s take a look at the girl who became “Bad.” Do you know Tatiana Thumbtzen? The girl from her The Way You Make Me Feel... video, in her youth, fell in love with Michael Jackson—and she still loves him. She says Michael’s fate was to be devoted to the people of the world, and therefore it wasn’t meant for their love to reach its end. But if they didn’t meet on Earth, they would meet in heaven. She says: “No one will ever be like Michael.”
Tatiana posted this lesser-seen photo of herself and Michael—connected to their famous video—on her Twitter, writing: “First time I’m seeing this photo. Back then, we were both young and happy.”
Some fans believe that what makes her stand out among other women in Michael’s life is her honesty in expressing her feelings for him. And this quality has led many to identify with her, although many also don’t believe her words.
On her website, Tatiana talked more about Michael than about herself. She had put together a display photo of herself in a wedding dress next to an image of Michael. She had a dream of marrying Michael, and since that wish didn’t come true, Tatiana decided she would never have children. Her fate may be bitter and painful for many, because she never gave up on the dream of being beside Michael and devoted her entire life to it—while even once she didn’t receive a message from Michael. In 2005, she spoke in defense of Michael against his accusations, thinking that Michael would once again become aware of her—but according to her own words, “Michael didn’t even send a thank-you card.” Maybe Tatiana’s wishful thinking was that in such a terrifying and crushing situation, Michael would remember his former co-star and tour dancer.
We don’t know whether Michael loved Tatiana as much as she loved him. Maybe Michael was interested in her, but at that time he was married to his work. Maybe the Bad era wasn’t the right time to fall in love—Michael was conquering the peaks one after another. Maybe Tatiana spent all these years in fantasy, and in the moment when Michael was all she could think about, the King of Pop didn’t even remember her. But with all these details, Tatiana Thumbtzen is the “Bad girl,” and that’s what makes her important.
Many girls who saw Tatiana’s performance in the video wanted to be in her place. She is part of Michael Jackson’s history and part of our collective memory as fans. She is the girl of the Bad era—and perhaps, in a way, a symbol of all the girls who sincerely loved Michael and never reached their love.
Tatiana appears in Spike Lee’s documentary Bad 25. On her Twitter, she wrote that she expected Bad 25 to turn out to be an excellent documentary because she knew Spike Lee would be fair to Michael. Spike Lee has dubbed this film “his love letter” to the King of Pop.
In response to fans who say she exploits Michael’s name, the Bad girl wrote: “I never stopped loving him—what’s wrong with that?”
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice your happiness for others. Michael did that. He had a mission—to teach others to love, to heal the world. He left us with an important message. How much we understand this message is up to us... It wasn’t meant for us to meet on Earth. Michael became a share of the world. One day we’ll be together.”
Read the story of Tatiana’s love for Michael in this page.
Source: eMJey.com / @TatianaYvonne
Tatiana posted this lesser-seen photo of herself and Michael—connected to their famous video—on her Twitter, writing: “First time I’m seeing this photo. Back then, we were both young and happy.”
Some fans believe that what makes her stand out among other women in Michael’s life is her honesty in expressing her feelings for him. And this quality has led many to identify with her, although many also don’t believe her words.
On her website, Tatiana talked more about Michael than about herself. She had put together a display photo of herself in a wedding dress next to an image of Michael. She had a dream of marrying Michael, and since that wish didn’t come true, Tatiana decided she would never have children. Her fate may be bitter and painful for many, because she never gave up on the dream of being beside Michael and devoted her entire life to it—while even once she didn’t receive a message from Michael. In 2005, she spoke in defense of Michael against his accusations, thinking that Michael would once again become aware of her—but according to her own words, “Michael didn’t even send a thank-you card.” Maybe Tatiana’s wishful thinking was that in such a terrifying and crushing situation, Michael would remember his former co-star and tour dancer.
We don’t know whether Michael loved Tatiana as much as she loved him. Maybe Michael was interested in her, but at that time he was married to his work. Maybe the Bad era wasn’t the right time to fall in love—Michael was conquering the peaks one after another. Maybe Tatiana spent all these years in fantasy, and in the moment when Michael was all she could think about, the King of Pop didn’t even remember her. But with all these details, Tatiana Thumbtzen is the “Bad girl,” and that’s what makes her important.
Many girls who saw Tatiana’s performance in the video wanted to be in her place. She is part of Michael Jackson’s history and part of our collective memory as fans. She is the girl of the Bad era—and perhaps, in a way, a symbol of all the girls who sincerely loved Michael and never reached their love.
Tatiana appears in Spike Lee’s documentary Bad 25. On her Twitter, she wrote that she expected Bad 25 to turn out to be an excellent documentary because she knew Spike Lee would be fair to Michael. Spike Lee has dubbed this film “his love letter” to the King of Pop.
In response to fans who say she exploits Michael’s name, the Bad girl wrote: “I never stopped loving him—what’s wrong with that?”
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice your happiness for others. Michael did that. He had a mission—to teach others to love, to heal the world. He left us with an important message. How much we understand this message is up to us... It wasn’t meant for us to meet on Earth. Michael became a share of the world. One day we’ll be together.”
Read the story of Tatiana’s love for Michael in this page.
Source: eMJey.com / @TatianaYvonne