Editing Martika (section)

===Rise to prominence and ''Martika'' (1988–1991)===
Her debut album, ''[[Martika (album)|Martika]]'' (1988), reached number fifteen on the US [[Billboard 200]] albums chart.<ref name=billboard200/> The album spawned the internationally successful single "[[Toy Soldiers (song)|Toy Soldiers]]", which she co-wrote with her producer [[Michael Jay (producer)|Michael Jay]] and it became a top-5 hit in the United Kingdom,<ref name=uk/> Ireland,<ref name=ie>{{cite web |url= http://i.imgur.com/E2fMC19.jpg|title=The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Martika'|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-2006| title= Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Martika – Toy Soldiers (single)|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and Australia.<ref name=aus/> In the US, "Toy Soldiers" spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1989.<ref name= hot100>{{cite magazine| url= http://www.billboard.com/artist/309724/martika/chart|title=Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > The Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> "Toy Soldiers" also went to No. 1 in New Zealand.<ref name=nz>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Martika|title=charts.nz > Discography Martika|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> "Toy Soldiers" was written about [[drug addiction]], but can sound like a break-up [[ballad]]. 

Two additional singles were released from ''Martika'', and also charted within the top forty in the United States – "[[More Than You Know (Martika song)|More Than You Know]]" and "[[I Feel the Earth Move (Carole King song)|I Feel the Earth Move]]" which reached No. 18<ref name=hot100/> and No. 25<ref name=hot100/> on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 respectively. "I Feel the Earth Move" is a cover version of [[Carole King]]'s song from her album ''[[Tapestry (Carole King album)|Tapestry]]''. Both of the singles also peaked within the top twenty on the US Dance charts<ref>{{cite magazine| url= http://www.billboard.com/artist/309724/martika/chart?f=359|title=Billboard > Artists / Martika > Chart History > Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=uk>{{cite web| url= http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25549/martika/| title= Official Charts > Martika| website= officialcharts.com| publisher= The Official UK Charts Company| access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> "I Feel the Earth Move" also reached the top 10 in Australia.<ref name=aus/> New Zealand,<ref name=nz/> and Ireland.<ref name=ie/> A fourth and final single from the album, "Water", entered the lower regions of the UK<ref name=uk/> and Australian charts.<ref name=aus/> "Water" is partially sung in [[Spanish language|Spanish]], a homage to Martika's [[Cuba]]n ancestry. Other songs were re-recorded fully in Spanish for international release.

The album was certified platinum in the UK in 1990,<ref name= bpi>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/0ttUsYM.jpg|title=BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Martika'|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> and double platinum in Australia.<ref name=ryan>{{cite book|last= Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia}}</ref> In the United States, the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] awarded ''Martika'' a Gold certification, indicating sales in excess of 500,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Martika&ti=Martika&format=Album&type=#search_section |website=RIAA |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> In 1990, Martika co-wrote the track "Kiss Me Quick" with Michael Jay and Marvin Morrow. The track was recorded by freestyle/pop singer [[Alisha (singer)|Alisha]] for her 1990 album ''[[Bounce Back (album)|Bounce Back]]'', with Martika contributing backing vocals. ''Martika'' has since sold over three million copies internationally since its initial release.<ref>{{cite web |title=BIOGRAPHY |url=https://martikamartika.com/biography |website=martikamartika.com |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref>