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.
It's Not What you're Doing
Martika Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is there something you're afraid to feel
Boy, if you want me, it's getting late
Come and show me if your love is real
Cause I heard it from a friend
Who heard it from another friend
About the good things you do for me
Now's the right time, prove it to me
I don't know what you've been told
But love has gotta come from the heart
You better shape up
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
You've got emotions like everyone else
But you've gotta learn to let 'em show
I can't be in love all by myself
It takes two to make love grow
Make your move, I'm waiting for you
Actions speak louder than words
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Come on baby, show me your love is real
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Come on
Candlelight and a dance or two
That's all I need from you tonight
Softly whispering, I love you
Can only make me feel so right
Make your move, I'm waiting for you
Actions speak louder than words
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Show me real love
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Show me real love
(Show me, show me)
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Show me real love
(Come on, I know you can do it)
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Show me real love
I know that you can do it
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Show me real love
(Come on baby, prove it to me)
It's not what you're doing
It's what you're not doing, baby
Show me real love
Prove it to me
It's not what you're doing
Show me real love
Show me
It's not what you're doing
Show me real love
(Show me real love)
It's not what you're doing
The song "It's Not What You're Doing" by Martika is about a girl who is waiting for her guy to make a move and show her whether his love is genuine or not. She questions why he touches her but then pulls away, wondering if he is afraid to feel something. She urges him to prove his love for her through his actions, not just words. She has heard from a friend that he does good things for her, but she wants to see it for herself as she does not believe it. Martika stresses that love has to come from the heart, and one must show their emotions.
The chorus "It's not what you're doing, it's what you're not doing, baby" is repeated numerous times in the song, emphasizing the point that the man is not showing enough effort or genuine love towards the girl. Martika sings about the need for a candlelight and a dance or two, whispered words of love, and genuine effort to make a relationship work.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you touch me, then turn away
You initiate physical contact, but then you distance yourself emotionally. Why?
Is there something you're afraid to feel
Are you scared of experiencing certain emotions, maybe vulnerability or love?
Boy, if you want me, it's getting late
If you truly desire me, you need to act fast before it's too late.
Come and show me if your love is real
Words are not enough, I need to see your love in your actions.
Cause I heard it from a friend
I have heard rumors about your good deeds.
Who heard it from another friend
The rumors about your actions have been circulating around.
About the good things you do for me
People say that you have done good, kind things for me.
I don't believe it 'cause I've never seen it
I am skeptical of these rumors because I have never witnessed them myself.
Now's the right time, prove it to me
This is the moment for you to prove that you are capable of the good things that people say you do.
I don't know what you've been told
I am not sure the rumors I heard are accurate or true.
But love has gotta come from the heart
Love shouldn't be forced or insincere, it needs to come from the heart.
You better shape up
You need to start acting right and show your love through sincere actions.
It's not what you're doing
Your actions alone are not enough to prove your love.
It's what you're not doing, baby
It's the things you are failing to do that are creating doubt about your love.
You've got emotions like everyone else
You are not exempt from feeling emotions like everybody else.
But you've gotta learn to let 'em show
You need to learn to express your emotions and let them show in your actions.
I can't be in love all by myself
I cannot be in a relationship alone, it takes two to make it work.
It takes two to make love grow
Both parties involved need to put in the effort to make the love and relationship grow.
Come on baby, show me your love is real
Stop talking and start doing, prove to me that your love is genuine.
Candlelight and a dance or two
Romantic gestures like candlelight and dancing are all I need from you tonight.
That's all I need from you tonight
I do not ask for much, just a romantic gesture tonight.
Softly whispering, I love you
Expressing love and affection gently through whispers and sweet words.
Can only make me feel so right
These gestures make me feel loved and cherished.
Make your move, I'm waiting for you
I am giving you the chance to make things right, don't waste it.
Actions speak louder than words
What you do has more impact and meaning than what you say.
Show me real love
Prove to me that your love is genuine and sincere.
(Show me, show me)
I need to see your love with my own eyes.
I know that you can do it
I have faith in you, I know you are capable of showing real love.
(Come on baby, prove it to me)
Stop making excuses and prove to me that you really love me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL (MARGULES) JAY, ROBERT ETOLL, ROBERT J. ETOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind