In 1989, a nineteen year old singer named Martika from California, managed by her Cuban mother, having won the nation's affections by her charismatic role on the children's music show, Kids Incorporated had her brief moment of fame with her number one song "Toy Soldiers". It's quite sad that Martika is otherwise forgotten now, because to me she was the best that the teen diva genre had to offer.

This album to me represents everything that teen pop music should be. Believe me I'm not a sucker for Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. Mainly because their music lacks a good melody and as vocalists they both sound perpetually depressed, and any serious topics they delve in to prove their maturity and artistry are delivered with such unpleasant heavy handedness. But to me this album is so right!

Produced by Michael Jay (who also co-wrote some of the songs) the musical hooks are spontaneous and energetic like the vibrancy of youth, and with such jovial and bubbly lyrics and singing, and even the cheesiest moments of this album are contagiously so, drawing you into the feel of being a carefree teenager. And as a singer, Martika is very hard to fault, with a voice which can gently soothe or passionately scream the high notes without graining or faltering. If the teen diva genre ever awarded itself a classic, defining album, for the amount of joy of life, melody, talent and danceability this album has I think this one would be it.

1. If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane
2. Cross My Heart
3. More Than You Know
4. Toy Soldiers
5. You Got Me into This
6. I Feel the Earth Move
7. Water
8. It's Not What You're Doing
9. See If I Care
10. Alibis


The album kicks off with appropriately "If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane", a heavily guitar driven and spunky track with enjoyably silly lyrics, making for an infectious concoction which you must be crazy to not dance to. I really wish I could now and again hear modern music like this- music with a sense of humour. Pop music at its most self-depreciatingly charming.

"Cross My Heart" maintains the musical spontanaeity in a song about typical love attraction and commitment. Martika's voice brilliantly hits the high notes, even though the lyrics are in places quite cliched on close inspection, its hooks are so joival and sung with such unrestrained enthusiasm and happiness, it's hard to care.

"More Than You Know" is a lot more down to Earth, exploiting a simplistic but funky synthesiser guitar loop. Again a very lively and danceable track with damn catchy lyrics which Martika wrote herself, about experiencing a schoolgirl crush and wondering whether to reveal or hide her strong feelings. Far from a lazy or dull song, the sexual tension is strong and compelling, describing a heart so full of uncontainable desire its fit to burst, sending emotional compulsion to every nerve in her body.

Then like a fish out of water comes "Toy Soldiers", an unusually dark song, with a very misleading title. Officially the song is supposed to be about drug addiction. With its child-like surreal chorus, and lines like "Only emptiness remains// it replaces all the pain", written by Martika herself, it's pretty clear this is not a Pop song.

The slow and tense drum build-up and lush guitarist collage, coupled with Martika's gentle vocalism, brilliantly contains the song's passion, and keeps the listener at a safe but intrigued distance from the depicted mental agony and chaos. However as Martika explained in an interview, this is not a negative song- it's about weakness and loss of self-control, but it's also about fighting and searching for an inner strength.

The next track- "You Got Me Into This" contrasts incredibly with "Toy Soldiers". A typical bubblegum song of teen love gone wrong- she fell in love with the wrong guy, he lied to her, she has trouble letting go. The lyrics aren't particularly deep as those of Toy Soldiers and this is a very formulaic teenage song, but its vibe works very well, kind of a nice light snack for the brain, so you can get into the groove. The musical collage of trumpets and synthesisers is wonderfully summertime-esque and doesn't at all demand to be taken seriously, and the excessive drum beats are excessively funky.

Then is a re-make of Carole King's oldie Motown track "I Feel The Earth Move", which Martika transforms beyond recognition into a high energy, loud Rock driven dance track, and when I say high energy I mean it- incredibly vibrant and infectious energy and high notes which are never missed. Overall a fantastic dance track with the right pauses and peaks of raw sexual lust. It's contageously uninhibited, driven by raging emotions, and care-free lust and desire.

Martika's vocals certainly do the song justice, mastering a loud and over-the-top flamboyancy and genuine heartfelt desire. It pretty much defines the term "controlled chaos" and is one hell of a ride of explosive peaks and pauses that are literally breath-taking. Pop music today has honestly become far too formulaic for its own good.


"Water" manages itself, like "Toy Soldiers" as another artistic height in this set. With a much more exotic and soulful musical soundscape of Latino guitar hooks and the sensual musical sound of day breaking and water trickling, and the Carribean drum rhythms are so complex and persistent, that they are positively liberating. Martika's sensual yet enthusiastic voice stands out particularly on this one, and the song shines lyrically as well. Martika's self-written romantic lyrics are very poetic and clever here in her metaphor for love's unquenchable thirst and mutual fellings of love reflected, and then when she starts to sing in Italian it becomes literally mouth watering. Another gem of a song.

"It's Not What You're Doing" and "See If I Care" are virtually the same song. Cheesy, but extremely funky production which reminds me of late 80's Bobby Brown or Five Star and is very danceable. Both songs are about the same thing- Martika trying to persuade her sexually repressed idiot prep boyfriend to treat her with proper affection and to act on his lust. The songs resonate with uninhibited attitude that I just lap up- exuberating confidence and directness, Martika comes as an empowering total converse to the cliche'd shy girl of teenage pop. The question of actual sex never comes to bear, so I can still recommend this CD to young listeners. Plus I find the songs a good confidence boost for any young people who are too ashamed to express affection because of whatever sexual taboos are laid upon them.

"Alibis" written by Martika and Mitchell Kaplan ends the album on a somewhat somber note. In a song about finally deciding to walk out on a partner who treated her badly one time too many and didn't do enough to make up for it. I like this song a lot, the musical production has a lovely Jazz flavour, the lyrics are sweetly sugary and feminine and it makes an effective closing to the album.

Other Choice Lyrics

"your lisence to my heart has made its expiration date"

"You reach into me and I ripple round in circles, reflections of my dreams and yours"

"Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win, but the battle wages on, for Toy Soldiers"

"I only wish I could read your mind, so I know just how you feel// send me a signal, tell me your feelings are just as real"
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Well that wraps the album up. I can definitely recommend this album as a very pleasing musical experience. I would recommend giving this a listen even if bubblegum Teen-Pop music isn't your thing. This album contains much more soul, wonderful vocalism, intuitive lyrics and lush and lively musical hooks than most albums of the genre.

After this album, Martika switched producers to Prince. Her follow up album in 1991- "Martika's Kitchen" (Review Here) was in many ways superior, but for some reason didn't seem to give her the lasting career she should have had. In-fact to this day it remains a rare piece of vinyl to obtain. A shame really because it was a superb piece of work with musical styles as varied as allsorts, much more mature, seductive, spiritual lyrics and intelligently depicted themes of personal growth (Safe In The Arms of Love), sexual healing (Love.... Thy Will Be Done), teenage pregnancy (Broken Heart) and even suicidal thoughts (Take me to Forever).

Martika effectively disappeared into the Musical Bermuda Triangle around 1992, though rumour is her comeback is on the horizon. But I am so glad she made this album, and I'm very glad to own it.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving