Despite featuring in several "One Hit Wonder" charts, Toy Soldiers was one of several hit singles for Martika during the late 80's and early 90's.
Sampled by Eminem for his 2005 hit Like Toy Soldiers, this original release by Martika in January 1989 (the song lyrics are about drug taking and the devastation it causes) spent two weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and also in New Zealand. In fact, the American singer, songwriter and actress, was pretty popular down under with the song also reaching #5 in Australia. The track also reached #5 in the UK.
You can watch the original video above, and also a performance of Top Of The Pops further down this page.
Toy Soldiers was Martika's second hit single from her debut self-titled album. The previous single More Than You Know was her first hit, and reached #15 in the UK and #18 in the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up to Toy Soldiers was I Feel The Earth Move, and reached #2 in Australia, #7 in the UK and #25 in the U.S.
The only other charting single from the album was Water, which was released in 1990 and reached #59 in the UK and #98 in Australia.
Released in October 1988, the Martika album was a worldwide success, reaching #2 in Australia, #11 in the UK and #15 in the U.S. It sold around 3 million copies.
Martika's follow-up album (Martika's Kitchen) which released in August 1991, was also fairly successful, peaking at #9 in Australia and #15 in the UK. However, in her home country the album flopped, stalling at #111 in the album charts.
Martika's last chart success was in 1992 with the single Coloured Kisses, which was also taken from the second album Martika's Kitchen and reached #39 in Australia and #41 in Britain.
