Toy Soldiers (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, Rahsaan Patterson, Renee Sands, Shanice Wilson, 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.

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 Pyrrhic Victory".

In the Simpsons 18th season episode "G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)" the music playing during the assault course is "Toy Soldiers".

[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 Jugete'
Toy Soldiers - Martika, Japanese
Toy Soldiers - Mark Duffy, UK Demo
Toy Soldiers - Ryan Laubscher, UK Demo
Toy Soldiers - R&B Demo

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