Martika is the debut studio album by singer-songwriter
Martika, released on October 18, 1988, through
CBS Records.
Background
The album marked the solo debut for Martika, and spawned the American #1 single "
Toy Soldiers". The song is about
drug addiction, but can sound like a break-up
ballad. The song was later sampled by rapper
Eminem for his 2004 song "
Like Toy Soldiers" featuring Martika as the chorus singer. Songs that charted internationally included "
More Than You Know", "Water", and "
I Feel the Earth Move", a
Carole King cover that cracked the American Top 25. Stylistically the music was strictly pop, despite exploring some adult topics lyrically. "Water" is partially sung in
Spanish, a homage to Martika's
Cuban ancestry. Other songs were re-recorded fully in Spanish for international release.
Although this was the album Martika attempted to break away from her Kids Incorporated image, she did have four of her former castmates sing the "children's chorus" of "Toy Soldiers".
The album was successful in the U.S.; it managed to peak at #15 on the
Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the
RIAA, making it her best-selling album to date. The album peaked at #11 in the
United Kingdom, containing three top 20 singles there.[3] In the UK, the song "
Cross My Heart" had already been a top 20 hit for the band
Eighth Wonder a year previously,[4] whilst
Big Fun pulled their planned single release of "I Feel the Earth Move" shortly before Martika's release.[5]
Martika is the debut studio album by singer-songwriter
Martika, released on October 18, 1988, through
CBS Records.
Background
The album marked the solo debut for Martika, and spawned the American #1 single "
Toy Soldiers". The song is about
drug addiction, but can sound like a break-up
ballad. The song was later sampled by rapper
Eminem for his 2004 song "
Like Toy Soldiers" featuring Martika as the chorus singer. Songs that charted internationally included "
More Than You Know", "Water", and "
I Feel the Earth Move", a
Carole King cover that cracked the American Top 25. Stylistically the music was strictly pop, despite exploring some adult topics lyrically. "Water" is partially sung in
Spanish, a homage to Martika's
Cuban ancestry. Other songs were re-recorded fully in Spanish for international release.
Although this was the album Martika attempted to break away from her Kids Incorporated image, she did have four of her former castmates sing the "children's chorus" of "Toy Soldiers".
The album was successful in the U.S.; it managed to peak at #15 on the
Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the
RIAA, making it her best-selling album to date. The album peaked at #11 in the
United Kingdom, containing three top 20 singles there.[3] In the UK, the song "
Cross My Heart" had already been a top 20 hit for the band
Eighth Wonder a year previously,[4] whilst
Big Fun pulled their planned single release of "I Feel the Earth Move" shortly before Martika's release.[5]