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"Toy Soldiers" is a song by American singer Martika appearing on her 1988 eponymous debut album and released in the United States as the second single from the album on April 26, 1989. It was a number-one Billboard Hot 100 hit for two weeks in mid-1989. An edited version of the song is included in the imported version of the album Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika.

"Toy Soldiers"
Artwork for European releases
Single by Martika
from the album Martika
B-side	"Exchange of Hearts"
Released	April 26, 1989 (1989-04-26)[1]
Genre	Pop rock[2] gothic rock[3]
Length	4:47 (album version) 3:43 (single version)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Martika Michael Jay
Producer(s)	Michael Jay
Martika singles chronology
"More Than You Know" (1988) "Toy Soldiers" (1989) "I Feel the Earth Move" (1989)
Music video
"Toy Soldiers" on YouTube

Song overview

Martika wrote the song about a friend who was battling a cocaine addiction. "I was a little hesitant because I had only written two songs before and they were light songs. I came up to Michael and said I wanted to write about drugs. It was the first time I got the nerve to write about something that was scary for me to talk about, so I did."[4] According to an episode of VH-1's Pop-Up Video, in which "Toy Soldiers" was featured, the friend-in-question eventually conquered the addiction.

Composition

The song is performed in the key of C♯ minor with a tempo of 65 beats per minute in ⁴
₄ time. The song follows a chord progression of A–B–A–B–C♯m–B–C♯m–G♯m–C♯m–B.

Critical reception

Bryan Buss of AllMusic retrospectively reviewed the Martika album, stating "the big hit single, 'Toy Soldiers', works with its childlike vocals and lyrics, creating a haunting, effective dichotomy with its subject of drug addiction." Buss also highlighted the song as an album standout by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.[5] Rob Theakston of Allmusic labeled the song as an AMG Pick Track on the 2005 compilation Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika.[6]

Chart success

The song spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in New Zealand while peaking within the top ten of the charts in both Australia and the United Kingdom. On Billboard's year-end chart for 1989, "Toy Soldiers" placed number 29. It was Martika's only number-one single in the US, and her highest-ranking single in the United Kingdom. The single was certified gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In March and April 2009, VH1 ran a countdown of the 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s. "Toy Soldiers" placed at number 67 on the countdown, although Martika had three other top 40 hits: "More Than You Know" (number 18); "I Feel the Earth Move" (number 25); and "Love... Thy Will Be Done" (number 10).

Music video

The video for the song was directed by Jim Shea, who later became a regular in directing country music videos. Martika is seen singing with a waterfall in front of her (this was done by filming her in an empty pool with a water current flowing between her and the camera).

Track listings

7-inch single

1. "Toy Soldiers" – 4:52
2. "Exchange of Hearts" – 4:15

3-inch single

1. "Toy Soldiers" – 4:52
2. "Exchange of Hearts" – 4:15
3. "It's Not What You're Doing" – 4:11

12-inch single

1. "Toy Soldiers" – 4:52
2. "It's Not What You're Doing" – 4:11
3. "Exchange of Hearts" – 4:15

Charts

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	Platinum	70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[36]	Gold	50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[37]	Gold	25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38]	Silver	200,000^
United States (RIAA)[1]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	April 26, 1989	7-inch vinyl cassette	Columbia	[1]
United Kingdom	July 3, 1989	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	CBS	[39]

Cover versions and sampling

This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2018)

• Martika recorded and produced a Spanish version of "Toy Soldiers" renaming it "Como Un Juguete", though it was not as successful as the original English version. She also recorded the song in Japanese.
• Eminem's 2005 single "Like Toy Soldiers" features samples from "Toy Soldiers". A sample of Martika's singing the chorus is used as the chorus of the Eminem version. 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. The sample is played faster than the original version with an added drum beat. The final chorus of Martika's song is used as the chorus of Eminem's version.
• My Vitriol covered the song for their 2007 EP A Pyrrhic Victory.[40]
• Silversun Pickups covered the song for a 2020 7" single titled Toy Soldiers.[41]
• Amber Van Day's 2020 single Kids in the Corner features melodic hints from "Toy Soldiers".[42]

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1989

References

External links

• Music video on YouTube

На других языках

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- [en] Toy Soldiers (song)

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[es] Toy Soldiers (canción)

«Toy Soldiers» es una canción interpretada por la cantante estadounidense Martika, publicada como el segundo sencillo de su álbum debut homónimo el 26 de abril de 1989, a través de la compañía discográfica Columbia Records La canción ocupó la primera posición de la Billboard Hot 100 durante dos semanas y alcanzó la posición 5 de la UK Singles Chart. Martika es acompañada en el coro por sus antiguos compañeros en el programa de televisión Kids Incorporated. Entre sus compañeros estaban Stacy Ferguson, Rahsaan Patterson, Renee Sands, Devyn Puett y Jennifer Love Hewitt. El sencillo recibió una certificación dorada de la RIAA. Martika realizó una versión de la canción en español bajo el título de «Como un juguete». Eminem hizo un sample de la canción en «Like Toy Soldiers», el tercer sencillo de su álbum Encore.

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