Toy Soldiers (song)

"Toy Soldiers"
Single by Martika from the album Martika
Released	1989
Genre	Pop/Teen
Length	4:51
Label	Sony
Writer	Martika/Michael Jay
Producer	Martika
Martika singles chronology
"More Than You Know" (1989) "Toy Soldiers" (1989) "I Feel the Earth Move" (1990)

"Toy Soldiers" is a song by Martika appearing on her eponymous debut album in 1989 as a ballad. The single was a number-one hit in the US.

Song

Martika was the only one singing throughout the song, although the chorus of the song consisted of some of Martika's former castmates from Kids Incorporated, including Stacy Ferguson, Shanice Wilson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rahsaan Patterson, Renee Sands, Devyn Puett. The inspiration for the song came from a friend who was battling a drug addiction at the time. According to an episode of VH-1's Pop-Up Video in which the video was featured, the friend in question ultimately beat the addiction. It spent 2 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. while reaching the top ten in the UK. When it spent its first week at number one, it had leapt over Madonna's Express Yourself and kept that song from reaching the top spot. On Billboard's year-end chart for 1989, "Toy Soldiers" placed number twenty-nine. It was Martika's only number-one single in the U.S. and Chile, and her highest-ranking single in the UK . The single was certified Gold in the United States by the RIAA. The music video depicts Martika's relationship with a slightly older man, who is both a drug dealer and an addict himself. As he descends deeper into addiction and dealing, Martika is consumed by pain and helplessness as she remembers the earlier, happier times in their relationship. Ultimately, Martika is powerless to save him and he eventually dies in some unspecified manner (there is a brief shot of a man's body floating underwater that can be seen midway through the video that alludes to this) and she is seen at the end of the video placing a flower on what is presumed to be his grave. Martika however vows that she will not fall victim to the same addiction that claimed him. Eminem's Encore album features samples from "Toy Soldiers" in a song titled "Like Toy Soldiers". The subject of the Eminem song is markedly different from the Martika song, concerning violence and murder linked to rap music rather than drug addiction. British rock band My Vitriol released a cover of "Toy Soldiers" on the B-side of their 2007 EP "A Phyrric Victory". In the Simpsons 18th season episode "G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)" the music playing during the assault corse is "Toy Soldiers".

Formats

Japan 7"

1. Toy Soldiers - Japanese Version
2. Toy Soldiers - Original Version

Japan DJ promo

1. Toy Soldiers 4:48
2. More Than You Know 4:07

Irish 7"

1. Toy Soldiers
2. Exchange Of Hearts

US Promo CDs

1. Like Toy Soldiers - Eminem
2. Toy Soldiers - Martika
3. Toy Soldiers - RPM
4. Toy Soldiers - ALX Remix
5. Toy Soldiers - Fusion
6. Toy Soldiers - Martika, Spanish 'Como Un Jugete'
7. Toy Soldiers - Martika, Japanese
8. Toy Soldiers - Mark Duffy, UK Demo
9. Toy Soldiers - Ryan Laubscher, UK Demo
10. Toy Soldiers - R&B Demo

See also

• Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1989 (USA)

External links

• Youtube - Music video