Toy Soldiers (song)
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| "Toy Soldiers" | |||||
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| Single by Martika | |||||
| from the album Martika | |||||
| Released | January 27, 1989 | ||||
| Genre | Teen | ||||
| Length | 4:51 | ||||
| Label | Sony | ||||
| Writer(s) | Martika/Michael Jay | ||||
| Producer | Michael Jay | ||||
| Martika singles chronology | |||||
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"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 United States.
Contents |
[edit] Song
Martika is 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 (Fergie), Rahsaan Patterson, Renee Sands, Shanice Wilson along with later cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt, and 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.
The song spent two 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 drug dealer and an addict. As he descends deeper into addiction, Martika is consumed by pain and helplessness as she remembers the earlier, happier times in their relationship. Martika is powerless to save him and he eventually dies (there is a brief shot of a man's body floating underwater) and she is seen placing a flower on a 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 Pyrrhic Victory".
In The Simpsons 18th season episode "G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)" the music playing during the assault course is "Toy Soldiers".
In March and April 2009, VH1 ran a countdown of the 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s. "Toy Soldiers" placed at #67 on the countdown despite the fact that Martika had three other Top 40 hits: "More Than You Know" (#18); "I Feel the Earth Move" (#25); and "Love ... Thy Will Be Done" (#10).
[edit] Formats
- Japan 7"
- Toy Soldiers - Japanese Version
- Toy Soldiers - Original Version
- Japan DJ promo
- Toy Soldiers – 4:48
- More Than You Know – 4:07
- Irish 7"
- Toy Soldiers
- Exchange Of Hearts
- US Promo CDs
- Like Toy Soldiers - Eminem
- Toy Soldiers - Martika
- Toy Soldiers - RPM
- Toy Soldiers - ALX Remix
- Toy Soldiers - Fusion
- Toy Soldiers - Martika, Spanish 'Como Un Juguete'
- Toy Soldiers - Martika, Japanese
- Toy Soldiers - Mark Duffy, UK Demo
- Toy Soldiers - Ryan Laubscher, UK Demo
- Toy Soldiers - R&B Demo
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 5 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 17 |
| German Singles Chart | 5 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| Preceded by "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Simply Red |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single July 22, 1989 - July 29, 1989 |
Succeeded by "Batdance" by Prince |
