Hooking up w/ producer Michael Jay, Martika landed a deal with Columbia Records. Martika's self-titled debut album was released in the fall of 1988. But it wasn't until 1989 that she broke through in a big way. By January her debut single "More Than You Know" was a US Top 20 smash. Her second single, a haunting ballad about addiction, entitled "Toy Soldiers" spent 2 weeks at #1 in the US during the summer of 1989. Up next was a dance/rock version of the Carole King classic "I Feel The Earth Move" which would eventually score Martika her 3rd Top 40 US hit. This song as well as her previous singles also became huge hits all over the world by charting high in the UK, Australia, Japan and Spain just to name a few. A fourth single was released in Europe and Australia entitled "Water".
After the success of her debut, her label compiled a 4 song EP of Spanish language versions of 3 of her hits ("Water" was included as well but in it's bilingual original state). It was during this time that Martika would perform throughout many Spanish speaking countries, and was heavily promoted to the US Latino market.
During the fall of 1990, Martika returned briefly to acting playing Dahlia Mendez on the CBS drama "Wiseguy". Playing a sultry nightclub singer & girlfriend to the then new lead Steven Bauer, Martika turned heads w/ her sexy outfits & latin jazz standards sprinkled throughout the show. Much like her character's untimely death, the show also was cancelled after failing to catch on with viewers. Luckily for Martika all 4 of her episodes aired.
Martika followed up her debut (which eventually went gold in the US) with 1991's "Martika's Kitchen". Led by the first single, "Love...Thy Will Be Done", a prayer that Martika had written which would later be turned into a song by Prince, Martika would find herself once again on the charts. The song peaked at #10 in the US and was a #1 hit in Australia. Unfortunately a sophmore slump of sorts took its toll on what could have been a huge hit album. The 2nd single, a funky Prince penned and produced tune, failed to set the charts on fire and stalled at #98 in the US. However it did fare better in Europe making it all the way to #1 in Spain. A third single, the C+C Music Factory produced "Coloured Kisses", failed to chart in the US but was a modest hit internationally. Two more singles would see the light of day in Europe, a club only release of yet another Prince produced track "Spirit" made the rounds as did a 4th single "Safe In The Arms Of Love".
It was during 1992 that Martika would walk away from her music career. After a headlining stint at the Expo Sevilla in Sevilla, Spain, Martika walked off the stage and began a long hiatus from music. Rumors of her whereabouts would range from the weird to plain ridiculous.
During this time Martika wrote songs for several artists (Maria Nyler, Tevin Campbell, etc.) as well as lending her voice to several projects (C+C Music Factory's "Música es mi vida" and the Conga Club's "The Happy Song" to name a few). But it was not until 1999 that Martika would come out of musical obscurity by launching a website (the new defunct martika.net) and talk of a new album brought many fans out of the woodwork so to say. At this time several demos leaked on the internet and she even went as far as to release an internet only single "The Journey" available exclusively on mp3.com.
This brief return sort of came and went and it wasn't until the beginning of this decade that Martika would again return. This time as 1/2 of the musical duo Oppera. Along with her musical partner (and husband) Michael Mozart, the duo released their internet only debut "Violince". Since they have released a self-titled follow-up, opened for Pat Benatar.
In 2010 Martika, under the name Vida Edit, starred in the internet series J8DED along w/ her hubby Michael Daemon. The show is currently on hiatus.
Martika is currently working on her first solo album in 20 years. It will see her return to her dance/pop roots. Expect a fall 2011 release.
Also of note rapper Eminem sampled Martika's "Toy Soldiers" in his 2004 hit "Like Toy Soldiers", thus resparking some interest in this often ignored pop star. To boot, in 2007 British shoegaze/alternative rock band My Vitriol covered the song for their A Pyrrhic Victory EP.
Coloured Kisses
Martika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The red, blue, yellow, green
Black and white are the colours you liked
Red, the fire that burns my heart
When you're near, it wraps me up
Now, I find the space to feel good
Like the water it fills me with peace
Now that you're at my side
Your soul in mine
But I long for your touch
It's hurting so much
You give me, give me coloured kisses
Coloured kisses for my lips to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
What else can I do?
'Cause all I want is more and more
Coloured kisses from you
Coloured kisses
Yellow is the sun that shines on me
Like your smile it sets me free
Seasons change to blacken my mood
When I falter my heart goes astray
I remember the nights when you'd take me away
Because when I'm at your arm
I'm safe and warm
But I'm never alone
Because my heart is your home
You give me, give me coloured kisses
Coloured kisses for my lips to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
And that no one can take me from you
And no one can break us in two
So lift it up in the clouds set me free
And let your rainbow all out shine on me
Coloured kisses
Coloured kisses
That's right
Come back, come back, come back
You, you give me
Coloured, coloured kisses for my lips to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
What else can I do?
You give me, give me coloured kisses
Coloured kisses to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
What else can I do?
In Martika's song "Coloured Kisses," the lyrics convey a deep longing for love and companionship. The use of colours and imagery help to create a vivid picture of the emotions involved. The first verse describes the different colours of kisses that the singer likes, and the second verse goes on to describe the emotions associated with each colour. The red kiss is associated with passion and burning desire, while the blue kiss is linked to tranquillity and peace.
The chorus repeats the phrase "coloured kisses" which represents the joy and happiness the person brings to the singer's life. They are like an oasis that provides comfort and respite from the trials of the outside world. The third verse describes the yellow kiss that is associated with the sun's warm embrace and the joy of being with the person. The final verse describes the power of their love and how it can overcome any obstacle.
Overall, "Coloured Kisses" is a beautiful love song that accentuates the importance of colour and imagination in describing the deep feelings of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, coloured kisses
The singer addresses their partner, who gives them colorful kisses.
The red, blue, yellow, green
The partner's kisses are various colors including red, blue, yellow, and green.
Black and white are the colours you liked
The partner prefers colorful expressions of love over simple, black and white ones.
Red, the fire that burns my heart
The artist feels intense passion when their partner is near, represented by the color red.
When you're near, it wraps me up
The artist feels enveloped by their partner's presence.
Now, I find the space to feel good
Being with their partner allows the singer to feel emotionally fulfilled and content.
Like the water it fills me with peace
The singer's partner has a calming effect on them, like water can be calming.
When you near me again I still breathe within
The artist feels alive and invigorated when their partner is close.
Now that you're at my side
The artist is grateful to be with their partner.
Your soul in mine
The artist feels a deep connection with their partner.
But I long for your touch
Despite feeling close to their partner, the singer still desires physical affection.
It's hurting so much
Not being able to physically be with their partner is painful for the artist.
Yellow is the sun that shines on me
The singer compares their partner's love to the warmth and light of the sun, represented by yellow.
Like your smile it sets me free
Their partner's smile has a freeing effect on the singer.
Seasons change to blacken my mood
The singer's mood darkens as time passes, representing the change of seasons.
When I falter my heart goes astray
When the artist is struggling or uncertain, they feel lost and unsure.
I remember the nights when you'd take me away
The artist reminisces about moments when their partner would lift them up and provide comfort.
Because when I'm at your arm
The singer feels safe and protected in their partner's embrace.
I'm safe and warm
Being near their partner brings the singer a sense of peace and comfort.
But I'm never alone
The artist doesn't feel isolated or lonely when they have their partner with them.
Because my heart is your home
The artist feels that their partner is where they belong.
And that no one can take me from you
The artist feels secure in their relationship and trusts that they won't be separated from their partner.
And no one can break us in two
The singer and their partner are a strong, unbreakable couple.
So lift it up in the clouds set me free
The artist wants their partner to lift them up and provide a sense of freedom and release.
And let your rainbow all out shine on me
The singer wants their partner to express their love and affection fully, like a rainbow.
That's right
The singer affirms their love and connection with their partner.
Come back, come back, come back
The singer longs for their partner's return.
What else can I do?
The artist feels helpless and unsure about how to cope without their partner.
You give me, give me coloured kisses
The partner's colorful kisses bring joy and light to the artist's life.
Coloured kisses for my lips to taste
The singer relishes in the physical affection and intimacy shared with their partner.
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
The singer's partner provides a sense of refuge and safety, symbolized by an oasis in the desert.
An oasis where I can lay
Being with their partner allows the artist to rest and relax.
My head on your shoulder and pray
The artist feels a spiritual connection with their partner and feels moved to pray together.
What else can I do?
The artist feels increasingly helpless without their partner's physical presence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARRERO, PIERCE, SPOSATO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melody Tee
Hey, coloured kisses
The red, blue, yellow, green
Black and white are the colours you liked
Red, the fire that burns my heart
When you're near, it wraps me up
Now, I find the space to feel good
Like the water it fills me with peace
When you near me again I still breathe within
Now that you're at my side
Your soul in mine
But I long for your touch
It's hurting so much
You give me, give me coloured kisses
Coloured kisses for my lips to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
What else can I do?
'Cause all I want is more and more
Coloured kisses from you
Coloured kisses
Yellow is the sun that shines on me
Like your smile it sets me free
Seasons change to blacken my mood
When I falter my heart goes astray
I remember the nights when you'd take me away
Because when I'm at your arm
I'm safe and warm
But I'm never alone
Because my heart is your home
You give me, give me coloured kisses
Coloured kisses for my lips to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
And that no one can take me from you
And no one can break us in two
So lift it up in the clouds set me free
And let your rainbow all out shine on me
Coloured kisses
Coloured kisses
That's right
Come back, come back, come back
You, you give me
Coloured, coloured kisses for my lips to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
What else can I do?
You give me, give me coloured kisses
Coloured kisses to taste
You lead me, lead me to an oasis
An oasis where I can lay
My head on your shoulder and pray
What else can I do?
Kai Sanderson
Underrated masterpiece!
Brandon Moore
@Kai Sanderson Martika Coloured Kisses is my favorite song and written by Prince
Kai Sanderson
@Brandon Moore actually Prince didn’t write this one. He wrote her previous two singles love thy will be done and Martika’s Kitchen .
Brandon Moore
@Kai Sanderson Yes Prince did wrote Martika Coloured Kisses
Kai Sanderson
@Brandon Moore no he did not Martika and Les Pierce and frankie blue did.
뮤직팩트체크
@Brandon Moore prince’s agent girlmusic haven’t claim this song’s copyright, so not his one.
THE FAT BAT
I was in love with MARTIKA and her music! I still am! ❤ 🤍 💙 🧡 ♥️
Brandon Moore
@Cal Calcutta Well so I'm! Martika is my favorite music artist too!
eSther Sony
Had Martika never left the industry..she would have been a bigger artist than anyone else..what a voice!!!
Raul Garza
Back in the day I remember when I bought this cd this was one of my favorite songs how she goes from high to low. Brilliant. That was pure talent