| Martika | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 18, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | April–May 1988 | |||
| Studio | Trax Recording (Hollywood, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:59 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Michael Jay | |||
| Martika chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 European edition | ||||
| Singles from Martika | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Martika is the debut studio album by singer-songwriter Martika,released on October 18,1988,through CBS Records.
The album marked the solo debut for Martika,and spawned the American No. 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 peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA,making it her best-selling album to date. The album peaked at No. 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]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane" | 4:20 | |
| 2. | "Cross My Heart" | Jay | 3:52 |
| 3. | "More Than You Know" |
| 4:10 |
| 4. | "Toy Soldiers" |
| 4:51 |
| 5. | "You Got Me Into This" | Jay | 4:11 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Feel the Earth Move" | Carole King | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Water" |
| 4:39 |
| 3. | "It's Not What You're Doing" |
| 4:13 |
| 4. | "See If I Care" |
| 3:41 |
| 5. | "Alibis" |
| 3:50 |
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart [6] | 2 |
| Austrian Albums Chart [7] | 18 |
| Canadian Albums Chart [8] | 17 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart [9] | 11 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart [10] | 17 |
| Swedish Albums Chart [11] | 26 |
| Swiss Albums Chart [12] | 11 |
| UK Albums Chart [13] | 11 |
| US Billboard 200 [14] | 15 |
| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [15] | 20 |
| European Albums ( Eurotipsheet ) [16] | 36 |
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [17] | 89 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [18] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada) [19] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) [20] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) [21] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [22] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [23] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
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Martika is mostly a breezy, clubby lightweight teen-pop album...
