Its about addiction "wont you come outside and play with me" is the drugs talking to her. The toy Soldiers is a metaphor for not having control of your life when you are an addict. You are just a piece being moved around wherever the addiction wants to take you
She’s singing about a close friend of hers that was addicted to drugs… luckily they overcame & cleaned up, unlike the person in the song. (The video shows her visiting the grave after)
If you have a problem, PLEASE get help. I've lost too many GOOD people to this fucking epidemic. I don't even know you, and I care about you enough to beg you to stop.
Martika wrote the song about a friend who was battling a cocaine addiction. "I was a little hesitant because I had only written two songs before, and they were light songs. I came up to Michael and said I wanted to write about drugs. It was the first time I got the nerve to write about something that was scary for me to talk about, so I did." According to an episode of VH-1's Pop-Up Video, in which "Toy Soldiers" was featured, the friend-in-question eventually conquered the addiction.
Wow! This song still gets me in the feels. It always had a strange hold over me as a kid in the 80s. Guess I must've found it pretty haunting back then.
Hey guys. The song is about drug addiction. One of my favorites but I can't listen to it too often because it is one of those songs that has the power to literally make me sad. Love watching y'alls videos!
I remember her from a kids' show called K.I.D.S Inc. it was a group of kids that did cover songs of popular songs at the time and doing life lessons and I think she was the eldest (a very young Fergie was also on this show).
I remember Toy Soldiers the old Sean Astin movie. Not that there's any connection between the two but I can't think of one without thinking of the other.
This takes me back to the summer that I stayed with my older brother down in Mississippi. There was a water slide park that was right by the beach that we use to go to and they played this song on the loud speakers a lot.
Martika wrote the song about a friend who was addicted to drugs While Em wrote Like Toy Soldiers about him wanting to end all his beefs and in honor to One of the D12 members (Eminem's old band group thing) who died, and then years later ems friend Proof Dies, so It Turned into like a tribute to both of them (what i think)
I absolutely know what addiction is about. 😢 By the grace of God I've been clean and sober for 40 years. Got to change who you hang out with and most of all you are just a drink or pill away from going back to Hell on earth Thank you God most high for hearing my prayers so long ago ❤
I have a song suggestion for you guys - 'Chiquitita' by ABBA should please you both. Brad will appreciate the straightforward lyrics and the harmonies while Lex will not be able to stop smiling due to the prominent piano and theatrical presentation. It's so totally different from the ABBA songs you have heard! And, if you like it, give 'Cassandra' and 'Fernando' a listen - I think you'll discover why ABBA is considered one of the top supergroups of all time.
I believe Martika wrote this song after losing a friend to drug addiction. I love this song, its beautiful. Knowing the context though? It hits real hard. Eminem's sampling was a masterstroke too. Great song 💜
Toy Soldiers is also a 1991 film starring Sean Astin about a boy's prep school taken over by terrorists and the boys fight back. Martika was in the popular show in the 80's called K.I.D.S. Incorporated of which I remember well. Look up her rendition of Berlin's "Masquerade." You'll like it. Request: Peter Murphy--Cuts You Up. Btw, Fergie was also in that show.
This song is about drug addiction and the singer Martika was in a show back in the 80's called Kid's Incorporated also starring Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.
It's an eighties classic and you guys we're swaying away to the music. That's what an Eighties Ballard esq song will do to you. Great song and I approve the sampled version my Eminem. One of my favorites 👍
This would be analogous to like an 80s version of Demi Lovato crowd - several of those artists got a name for themselves from Nickelodeon or Disney. Martika was on a TV show called "KIDS Incorporated" which my sister used to watch (I think Saturday late mornings after cartoons). They would sing in the show like several shows on Disney or Nickelodeon. Martika was a stand out and that gave her an opportunity cut this record. I do not believe she ever had success with any other song. But this is an 80s classic that really took off - so beautiful yet haunting at the same time.
I haven't seen it mentioned but Martika was the lead on Kids Incorporated. It was a show in the very early 80's about a group of kids that sang cover songs of all the current 80's hits. A lot of people got their start there like Fergie, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Lambert
"How could I be so blind to this addiction? If I don't stop, the next one is gonna be me." Death from drug addiction - and realizing the looming consequences and still not being able to overcome the addiction alone.
A lot of people don’t know but the young girl singing in the song is fergie and that last solo breakdown is fergie too. Even at a young age she was quite talented. Great reaction by you too.
Bummer you guys don't react with the original videos because the Original Video to Toy Soldiers just depicts the story SO WELL! It's about addiction/drugs.
All I hear is Eminem now and I was a kid when this came out , this original reminds me of my childhood as well my dad out in the garage tinkering around with this music playing on his radio. Man I love music, memory inducing.
An there's the difference between artists and writers. There's a huge difference between just writing lyrics to talk over a beat. Then you have artists that not only write lyrics. They actually sing, composed, write the different music parts.
Fun fact Martika was on a TV show called Kids Incorporated with Fergie (Black Eyed Peas & My Humps fame) when they were kids. This was her attempt at having a career after the show.
That's right! In fact the parts with kids singing in this song was done by the other kids incorporated cast. Also... Jennifer Love Hewitt was there in later years too.
One of the best songs of my mouth. Martika was so hot. But she was basically a one hit wonder(or two hits wonder). Remembering the video, I think it was about a girl who falls for a guy older than her.
I recommend the songs I Dont Wanna Lose You (Gloria Estefan) and This Is The Right Time (Lisa Stansfield) from the same year 1989 as this Martika song :)
what was martika like 12 when she sang this? about her addiction to cocaine, heavy shit and a phenomenal vocalist, I think she started on Kid's Inc on Nickalodean
Its about addiction "wont you come outside and play with me" is the drugs talking to her. The toy Soldiers is a metaphor for not having control of your life when you are an addict. You are just a piece being moved around wherever the addiction wants to take you
Wow I never realized that. But then I never tried drugs.
I also feel like she's talking about how everyone says just cause they got addicted doesn't mean that I will. But the soldiers keep falling down.
She’s singing about a close friend of hers that was addicted to drugs… luckily they overcame & cleaned up, unlike the person in the song. (The video shows her visiting the grave after)
If you have a problem, PLEASE get help. I've lost too many GOOD people to this fucking epidemic. I don't even know you, and I care about you enough to beg you to stop.
yup the line about the next one is going to be me.. is about her maybe dying from it?
Martika wrote the song about a friend who was battling a cocaine addiction.
Too bad that sad events motivate people to write beautiful songs.
Funny, is was written by Prince, i'm pretty sure. Anyway, I know he had a helping hand in getting her started...
It was about her brother she wrote it
@@lastpenny849 Not really, Prince gave her "Love thy will be done", not this one.
@@Caprizonica Yes, I have been informed. He did help her quite a bit with her career. He helped many young female artists.
"It's true, I did extend the invitation, I never knew how long you'd stay" is a GREAT line about drug addiction.
Aaall the lines are pretty darn powerful & really explain addiction well.
and also In-Laws
@@thetallestdwarf7041 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yep
Martika wrote the song about a friend who was battling a cocaine addiction. "I was a little hesitant because I had only written two songs before, and they were light songs. I came up to Michael and said I wanted to write about drugs. It was the first time I got the nerve to write about something that was scary for me to talk about, so I did." According to an episode of VH-1's Pop-Up Video, in which "Toy Soldiers" was featured, the friend-in-question eventually conquered the addiction.
Wow! This song still gets me in the feels. It always had a strange hold over me as a kid in the 80s. Guess I must've found it pretty haunting back then.
Well you are not wrong, while I was a bit pre teen back then, i really fealt it of a road to something new... well that pree teens often do
I feel ya an am there with ya!
It will be the demonic children as backing singers. There were a lot of memorable horror films in the 80s.
@@matsv201 I think I was only 9 myself. I think this was around 89 ish.
@@TheRetroManRandySavage Yea.. i think it was popular here in europe like one year later, so i would been around 12ish
Man, I haven't heard this song in ages, brings back a lot of memories on my younger years. Thank you very much...
Martika's song " won't you come out and play with me"are the drugs calling. This hits home really really close I love it.
NO AUTO TUNE. This song is forever and ever, most romantic song. Greatest Cuban singer all the times.
It was 1989 and I was 6 years old with my first loose tooth. This cassette was my reward for letting my aunt and mom wiggle it out.😂
Awww lol
Hey guys. The song is about drug addiction. One of my favorites but I can't listen to it too often because it is one of those songs that has the power to literally make me sad. Love watching y'alls videos!
I remember her from a kids' show called K.I.D.S Inc. it was a group of kids that did cover songs of popular songs at the time and doing life lessons and I think she was the eldest (a very young Fergie was also on this show).
Also Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jennifer Lopez.They're singing background on this
The background singers are the kids from K.I.D.S. Inc., Fergie, Rashaan Patterson, Renee Sands, Kimberley McCollough, and Devyn Puett.
@@danachestnut1638 OK. now that I didn't know. Thanks.
@@pastorofmuppets22 at 45 and I can still learn things.
I loved that show! Really showed how talented they were even as young as they were
I remember Toy Soldiers the old Sean Astin movie. Not that there's any connection between the two but I can't think of one without thinking of the other.
I forgot how strangely powerful and brilliant this song was
Wtf! Lol. I never expected anybody to react to this tune..that’s Awesome 👏
Eminem used this song in one of his many hits , & it was Excellent
Martika was on a kids singing variety show in the mid 80's with Fergie. The show was called "KIDS Incorporated"
Had a huge crush on Martika back in the day, and this is in my top 20 fav songs of all time, love it.
Omg... I remember how you just couldn't get away from this song back in the day... Now 8 actually appreciate it!! Thanks guys!
Still get chill bumps listening to this 40 years later….
This was one of the biggest songs of '89, my senior year of HS.
This takes me back to the summer that I stayed with my older brother down in Mississippi. There was a water slide park that was right by the beach that we use to go to and they played this song on the loud speakers a lot.
Martika was on an awesome show in the 80's called "KIDs Incorporated"....she left the show to do the solo gig.
Martika wrote the song about a friend who was addicted to drugs
While Em wrote Like Toy Soldiers about him wanting to end all his beefs and in honor to One of the D12 members (Eminem's old band group thing) who died, and then years later ems friend Proof Dies, so It Turned into like a tribute to both of them (what i think)
I sang this in grade 4 at a talent show. I was quite the kid at 9 lol
Heavy stuff at 9 but then again most of us have a song we loved as kids that have pretty deep themes.
I just have to say I really enjoy that very soft "welcome to our channel" in the intro.
Powerful song 🥹 Love it, Love Martika✨ Love and miss the 80's♥️🙏🏾
This was our song in 8th grade. I never really listened to the lyrics but the chorus. Man I really miss the 80s.
I absolutely know what addiction is about. 😢 By the grace of God I've been clean and sober for 40 years. Got to change who you hang out with and most of all you are just a drink or pill away from going back to Hell on earth Thank you God most high for hearing my prayers so long ago ❤
I have a song suggestion for you guys - 'Chiquitita' by ABBA should please you both. Brad will appreciate the straightforward lyrics and the harmonies while Lex will not be able to stop smiling due to the prominent piano and theatrical presentation. It's so totally different from the ABBA songs you have heard! And, if you like it, give 'Cassandra' and 'Fernando' a listen - I think you'll discover why ABBA is considered one of the top supergroups of all time.
I believe Martika wrote this song after losing a friend to drug addiction.
I love this song, its beautiful. Knowing the context though? It hits real hard.
Eminem's sampling was a masterstroke too. Great song 💜
such a great tribute
Her friend was addicted to cocaine, but apparently recovered.
Hope you react to Martika's songs "Love...Thy Will Be Done" and "Martika's Kitchen" both written (or co-written) by Prince.
Awesome song, and still so powerful.
Pop music in the early 90s was so great.
this is from 89
@@MovieGuy666 It squeaks in.
But '88-'92 were the best years for pop. The pinnacle was Boyz II Men's 'End of the Road'.
she also does a pretty good cover of I Feel The Earth Move
Love her version of that!
I'm old enough to remember most of the original songs that were sampled in the 90's and 2000's.
This takes me back a few years, she had a few really big hits.
Toy Soldiers is also a 1991 film starring Sean Astin about a boy's prep school taken over by terrorists and the boys fight back. Martika was in the popular show in the 80's called K.I.D.S. Incorporated of which I remember well. Look up her rendition of Berlin's "Masquerade." You'll like it. Request: Peter Murphy--Cuts You Up. Btw, Fergie was also in that show.
Martika wrote this song. It's excellent.
I had such a huge crush on Martika back in the day!
I did buy this cassette. Wasn't much of an 80's pop person, at the time, but I really dug this. Good stuff!
It’s not pop as much as it is a ballad lol
This song is about drug addiction and the singer Martika was in a show back in the 80's called Kid's Incorporated also starring Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.
Should do, Love thy will be done, prince gave her that song. Even sings backing vocals.
I kept requesting this song almost every week, it’s reminds me of a forgotten time in my life.
Absolutely love this song... I remember when it first hit MTV.
She was on a tv show called Kid’s Incorporated.
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" by Martika is also an excellent song!
It's a song about existential angst, we are born, but we must die, every second that passes(left right left), marches us to our destruction
The song is so sad. She lost a really good friend to his addiction.
according to other sources, the friend in question conquered the addiction eventually
Nice, this song is one I always loved but forgot about!
You should really check out the song Luka by Suzanne Vega. It came out a year before toy soldier
Aw man! Her song Toms Diner rules!
I was in like 6th grade when this song came out. I haven't heard this song in at least 30 years!
I remember this song getting a lot of radio play. The singer Martika is cute AF.
It's an eighties classic and you guys we're swaying away to the music. That's what an Eighties Ballard esq song will do to you. Great song and I approve the sampled version my Eminem. One of my favorites 👍
I like how the song is about Death and LEX is smiling the whole time lol
Wow... Forgot about this one. Just got smashed up side the head with a dose of nostalgia.
This would be analogous to like an 80s version of Demi Lovato crowd - several of those artists got a name for themselves from Nickelodeon or Disney. Martika was on a TV show called "KIDS Incorporated" which my sister used to watch (I think Saturday late mornings after cartoons). They would sing in the show like several shows on Disney or Nickelodeon. Martika was a stand out and that gave her an opportunity cut this record. I do not believe she ever had success with any other song. But this is an 80s classic that really took off - so beautiful yet haunting at the same time.
Several of the other castmates sung on this song including the most famous singer of them Fergie.
I haven't seen it mentioned but Martika was the lead on Kids Incorporated. It was a show in the very early 80's about a group of kids that sang cover songs of all the current 80's hits. A lot of people got their start there like Fergie, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Lambert
Great song never gets old and she was on Miami Vice, them was some fun days back then
"How could I be so blind to this addiction? If I don't stop, the next one is gonna be me." Death from drug addiction - and realizing the looming consequences and still not being able to overcome the addiction alone.
A beautiful song about drug addiction. You gotta check out Martika's "Love Thy Will Be Done", written for her by Prince. My favorite song by her.
Literally her best song! I love her debut album too!
Wow,forgot about this song.music is time stamps in life.i recall my age ,where I lived, who my friends were etc
This song really well done.it really hits The Feelers
It's about addiction and the constant "step by step" battle against addiction.
he has a feeling that there is more she's not clearly saying but she is! and the look on his face shows it.
Love her voice. This shouldn't be sampled it a great stand alone song
It was a huge hit and on the radio all the time in 89
Here in Brazil too!
Thank you for putting up the lyrics👍🏼.
A lot of people don’t know but the young girl singing in the song is fergie and that last solo breakdown is fergie too. Even at a young age she was quite talented. Great reaction by you too.
Fergie is one of the kids singing Lil musical tidbit
Beautiful song. Love catching back up with this one.
Song was dedicated to the late actor, Corey Haim who was battling drug addiction in the late 80s
This song is sung from my wifes perspective. . Her pain ended 11 years ago.
Check out Berlin take my breath away. Was used in the movie top gun both as the song itself, but as pick up line
React to "I feel the earth move" was hit in the 80's.
I think only an addict can truly understand this sound.
I'd forgotten this song....pure nostalgia!
Bummer you guys don't react with the original videos because the Original Video to Toy Soldiers just depicts the story SO WELL! It's about addiction/drugs.
All I hear is Eminem now and I was a kid when this came out , this original reminds me of my childhood as well my dad out in the garage tinkering around with this music playing on his radio. Man I love music, memory inducing.
An there's the difference between artists and writers. There's a huge difference between just writing lyrics to talk over a beat. Then you have artists that not only write lyrics. They actually sing, composed, write the different music parts.
I love finding samples that other artist use for their songs. Its almost like a history lesson.
Fun fact Martika was on a TV show called Kids Incorporated with Fergie (Black Eyed Peas & My Humps fame) when they were kids. This was her attempt at having a career after the show.
That's right! In fact the parts with kids singing in this song was done by the other kids incorporated cast.
Also... Jennifer Love Hewitt was there in later years too.
@@Blu9_Nin9 It was pretty much the same time.
Yes I was wondering, if yall was gonna catch on. Nice 🤌🏾👍🏽👌🏾
I hate Sampling cuz it seems the Original peps Never get the Proper Credit Deserved for it! 😟 Love this Classic!! ❤️🔥💯🙂
Eminem paid her bud
Another artist that came out of the Kids Incorporated / The All-New Mickey Mouse Club kid talent factories of the late 80's / early 90's.
Addiction is something that most people know someone who has a problem with something. Drugs alcohol, gambling.
One of the best songs of my mouth. Martika was so hot. But she was basically a one hit wonder(or two hits wonder). Remembering the video, I think it was about a girl who falls for a guy older than her.
Truer words, man. I love women w/ black hair who have that general look of hers. You watch that video and you want her as your woman.
@@nonplayerzealot4 damn right! that late 80s early 90s short hair women look lol
TIL the lyrics aren't in fact "We never quit / The battle rages on", as I'd always (mis)heard it. Gives it a different meaning altogether.
I recommend the songs I Dont Wanna Lose You (Gloria Estefan) and This Is The Right Time (Lisa Stansfield) from the same year 1989 as this Martika song :)
sampling has actually done a lot for the original artist's music (when done properly) to get their music to new audiences. Good observation, Lex :)
This song remind me of my first Love and a broken heart at the same time....
This song lands in that small pocket of the 80s where pop songs had guitar solos and some rock songs had synth or sax solos. Really weird lol.
Expose' was a young kid when this came out. good memories.
This has been going on for a long time. Rock and Roll used the old blues songs. Rappers use Rock and Roll songs.
Such a sad song. It is about her childhood friends addiction and her overdose death. Watch the official video. You will understand it more.
This song will make you melt it's so great
you should react to some Doobie Brothers songs, like the live version of Don't start me talkin', long train runnin' at the farewell tour and many more
Greatly enjoyed
I am pretty sure this song is about addiction
☆LONG LIVE THE 80'S☆
I always thought she really nailed the chorus in this song. :)
what was martika like 12 when she sang this? about her addiction to cocaine, heavy shit and a phenomenal vocalist, I think she started on Kid's Inc on Nickalodean
No, she was around 19 or so. She was born in 1969 and this album came out in 1988.
@@ninja_tony I think she was like 12 when she was doing coke though, she was like Drew Barrymore, probably backstage at Nickalodean