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.
If You
Martika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight I'll believe every word that you say
I'm trusting the roll of the dice
The chance to win everything takes a sacrifice
And I want you now
I want you so bad
Tell me what to do
I'll try anything
I'll be anyone
Take on any track
Just to have your love
If you're Mister Right
I'm your claim to fame
If you're Tarzan I'm Jane
I'm wrapped in emotional fire
You are the answer to every desire
I... I wanna swing on your vine
Tonight I've got a primitive appetite
And I want you now
I need you so bad
Tell me what to do
I'll try anything
I'll be anyone
Take on any track
Just to have your love
If you're Mister Right
I'm your claim to fame
If you're Tarzan I'm Jane
If you were Marc Anthony
Then my name would be Cleopatra
If you were my Romeo
Then you can bet
I'm gonna be your Juliet
I'll try anything
I'll be anyone
Take on any task
Just to have your love
I'll pay any price
Even change my name
If you're Tarzan I'm Jane
The lyrics to Martika's "If You're Tarzan I'm Jane" are predominantly about attraction, desire, and the lengths one will go to win the affection of the one they desire. One of the notable lyrics is "I'm trusting the roll of the dice, the chance to win everything takes a sacrifice", which suggests that the singer is willing to take a risk to get what they want, regardless of any potential consequences. Moreover, the singer is so determined to have the love of the person they are singing to, that they are willing to "be anyone", "take on any track", and pay "any price" just to make that happen.
The song's chorus is particularly powerful, as it plays with the well-known trope of Tarzan and Jane, and the way in which they are often depicted as a strong, powerful man and a vulnerable, submissive woman. The lyrics state, "If you're Mister Right, I'm your claim to fame, if you're Tarzan I'm Jane", implying that the singer is willing to be the "Jane" to their partner's "Tarzan", both in terms of submission and loyalty.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of love, desire, and dedication, and it communicates the lengths to which someone might go to win the love of the person they desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I... I can't let you get away
I am unable to let you go, I need you in my life.
Tonight I'll believe every word that you say
Tonight, I will trust in everything you say.
I'm trusting the roll of the dice
I am putting my faith in luck.
The chance to win everything takes a sacrifice
In order to win everything, one must sacrifice something valuable.
And I want you now
I desire you strongly in this moment.
I want you so bad
I have a strong urge to have you.
Tell me what to do
Please instruct me on how to have you.
I'll try anything
I am willing to do anything to have you.
I'll be anyone
I am willing to change myself to have you.
Take on any track
I am willing to take on any challenge to have you.
Just to have your love
All of this effort is to gain your love.
If you're Mister Right
If you are the right person for me.
I'm your claim to fame
I will bring you great success and fame.
If you're Tarzan I'm Jane
I will be your loyal partner, just like how Jane is to Tarzan.
I'm wrapped in emotional fire
I am overwhelmed with emotion.
You are the answer to every desire
You fulfill all of my desires.
I... I wanna swing on your vine
I want to be close to you and be a part of your world.
Tonight I've got a primitive appetite
Tonight I have a strong desire that comes from my primal nature.
I need you so bad
I have a strong need for you.
If you were Marc Anthony
If you were a famous historical figure, like Marc Anthony.
Then my name would be Cleopatra
Then I would be your loyal and loving partner, like Cleopatra was to Marc Anthony.
If you were my Romeo
If you were my perfect partner, like Romeo was to Juliet.
Then you can bet I'm gonna be your Juliet
Then I will be your loyal and loving partner, like Juliet was to Romeo.
Take on any task
I am willing to take on any challenge or job to have you.
I'll pay any price
I am willing to pay any cost, including great expense or sacrifice, to have you.
Even change my name
I am willing to change my identity to have you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREG SMITH, MICHAEL JAY MARGULES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind