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.
Don't Say U Love Me
Martika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't say u love me
Don't say u love me
If ever there was a boy of contradiction
Then, baby, that boy is u
1 minute, u are a stranger
The next u're my guru
When I'd crawl into your arms
We were perfect lovers then
What happened 2 your charm?
Don't say that u love me, baby
'Cause I don't wanna know
Our love is like a rollercoaster
Up and down we go
Don't say u love me
I'm sick of this push and pull
U can't even love yourself
So 2 love me, u're incapable
Don't say u love me
I am not a fool
Say anything
Just please don't say u love me
No, no, no, oh-hoo
I've been so naive and blind
2 think u'd do no wrong
Yes, I'm still a dreamer
But the little boy is gone
U used 2 hug me, kiss me, touch me, lick me
Fill me with your charm
Then my credit card was in your hand
And u say "Don't be alarmed"? (Whoa!)
Don't say that u love me, baby
'Cause I don't wanna know
Our love is like a rollercoaster
Up and down we go
Don't say u love me
I'm sick of this push and pull
U can't even love yourself
So 2 love me, u're incapable
Don't say u love me
I am not a fool
Say anything
Just please don't say u love me
Locked in your prison
I forgot about me
But now I'm here, my dear
To tell you that I'm free
This little story
Is not 4 your glory
It's time 2 pack your bags
And don't forget 2 leave the key
Don't say u love me
Say anything
Just please don't say u love me
If ever there was a boy of contradiction
Then, baby, that boy is u
1 minute u are a stranger
The next u're my guru
U used 2 hug me, kiss me, touch me, lick me
Fill me with all your charms
That was then, this is now
Don't say that u love me, baby
'Cause I don't wanna know
Our love is like a rollercoaster
Up and down we go
Don't say u love me
I'm sick of this push and pull
U can't even love yourself
So 2 love me, u're incapable
Don't say u love me
I am not a fool
Say anything
Just please don't say u love me
No, I don't wanna hear it, just go!
The lyrics to Martika's "Don't Say U Love Me" tell the story of a tumultuous relationship with a boy who is a "boy of contradiction". The singer of the song is clearly fed up with the unpredictability of her partner's actions and the way he treats her. She misses the moments when he was charming and loving toward her but recognizes that he's now incapable of loving her, or even himself. She's sick of the ups and downs of their relationship and the push and pull of his affection. She's even gone so far as to call him a prisoner and herself a forgotten entity in their relationship.
The theme of this song is one that many people can relate to: the difficulties of a relationship with someone who is emotionally unavailable or unreliable. The chorus repeats the line "don't say you love me" three times, emphasizing the idea that empty words and promises aren't enough to keep a relationship going. The singer is tired of being hurt and manipulated and recognizes that she deserves better than what her partner is giving her. The song's upbeat, poppy melody belies its deeper message about the struggle for self-respect and love in a difficult relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't say u love me
The singer does not want to hear the subject say that they love her.
If ever there was a boy of contradiction
Then, baby, that boy is u
The subject is contradictory in their behavior and actions, making it difficult for the singer to understand their true feelings and intentions.
1 minute, u are a stranger
The next u're my guru
The subject's behavior is inconsistent, going from being distant to offering guidance and wisdom to the singer.
U used 2 hug me, kiss me, touch me, lick me
Fill me with your charm
Then my credit card was in your hand
And u say "Don't be alarmed"?
The subject initially showered the artist with affection and charm, but later took advantage of the relationship by stealing from the artist and dismissing their concerns.
Our love is like a rollercoaster
Up and down we go
The relationship between the artist and subject is unstable, characterized by frequent ups and downs.
I'm sick of this push and pull
U can't even love yourself
So 2 love me, u're incapable
The subject's inability to love themselves prevents them from being capable of truly loving the singer, leading to a tiring and frustrating dynamic between them.
Locked in your prison
I forgot about me
But now I'm here, my dear
To tell you that I'm free
The singer feels trapped in an unhealthy relationship with the subject, but has since liberated themselves and come to confront the subject about their behavior.
No, I don't wanna hear it, just go!
The artist wants the subject to leave and does not want to hear any further statements from them.
Contributed by Zachary D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.