Martika discography

American singer Martika has released two studio albums, four compilation albums, two extended plays and 11 singles during her career, primarily from 1988 until her withdrawal from the music industry in 2000. As of 2004, she performs lead vocals in the band Oppera with her husband Michael Mozart, releasing two albums Violince (2004) and Oppera (2005).

Her self titled debut album was released in October 1988 by CBS Records International and spawned four singles – "More Than You Know", "Toy Soldiers", "I Feel the Earth Move" and "Water". The first three singles all achieved considerable commercial success internationally, however, the release of "Toy Soldiers" saw a major international market breakthrough for the singer. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.^[1] It achieved similar commercial success elsewhere, also reaching number one in New Zealand,^[2] whilst in Ireland and Switzerland it reached number three, and number five in the United Kingdom, Australia and West Germany.^[3][4] It was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for sales in excess of 70,000 copies, whilst in the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry awarded it a Silver certification for sales in excess of 200,000 copies.^[5][6] Martika reached number two in Australia, number 11 in the United Kingdom and number 15 on the US Billboard 200,^[7][8][9] and sold over three million copies worldwide.^[10]

In July 1991, she released "Love... Thy Will Be Done" as the lead single from her second studio album, Martika's Kitchen (1991). The Prince produced and penned song reached number one in Australia,^[11] and reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ireland, France and New Zealand.^[12][13] The album was released in August 1991, and despite failing to replicate the commercial success experienced by her previous album, it did spawn the successful singles "Martika's Kitchen" and "Coloured Kisses". Martika's Kitchen is estimated to have sold one million copies worldwide.^[10] In 1992, she abruptly quit the music industry, citing burnout and feeling overwhelmed with the burden of fame.^[14]

She released a compilation album, I Feel the Earth Move, in 1998, and in 2004, her single "Toy Soldiers" was heavily sampled in "Like Toy Soldiers" released by American rapper Eminem, with Martika's receiving songwriting credits for the song.^[15] As a result of the resurgence experienced by the release of "Like Toy Soldiers", she released a further compilation album, Toy Soldiers: The Best of, in 2005.^[16] An unsuccessful comeback attempt in 2012 was spearheaded by the release of "Flow With the Go", which failed to chart, and subsequent third album, Mirror Ball, was eventually shelved.^[17][18]