Top 5 Poker Songs
Poker has always been a theme that inspired musicians to express themselves metaphorically. And players enjoy listening to tunes about their favorite card game.
Every music genre has produced songs that speak about the highs and lows of poker. Most have topped the charts, and some are still motivating players.
If searching for the best songs for a poker playlist, we can recommend some timeless hits!
1. Lady Gaga – Poker Face
It’s only appropriate to start the list with one of the best-selling singles of all time, and it can’t be a coincidence it is poker-themed. With 14 million copies sold worldwide, poker was on most people’s lips in 2009.
The global online poker boom indirectly boosted Lady Gaga’s career after she released ‘Poker Face’, a song that merges romantic love with the passion for the popular card game. The infectious beats get injected with numerous poker-fueled lines and sexual innuendos.
2. Kenny Rogers – Gambler
Back in the day, gamblers perceived the song as a personal mantra. And the gambling advice shared by country singer Kenny Rogers still rings true after four decades.
‘Gambler’ is probably the best-known poker song, and the lyrics convey the reality of old-school poker, which was simultaneously terrifying and fascinating. Most poker lovers today should feel lucky they can experience games like Casino Hold’em Live from the comfort of their sofa. Rogers regularly reminded fans this is his favorite song, even named the farewell tour after it.
3. Motorhead - The Ace of Spades
When you need an adrenaline boost during a poker game, ‘The Ace of Spades’ should be echoing in the headphones. It is a song that guarantees to get you in the zone. After all, the songwriter Lemmy Kilmister was an avid poker player himself. There is even a slot machine named in his honor.
The song is stacked with excellent poker verses. Although the heavy metal format makes it hard to understand every part, the chorus alone is worth the listen.
4. AC/DC – Jack
Poker is a high-stakes game, and music bands are fond of associating it with romantic relationships. Although ‘Jack’ is brimming with references to poker, it has nothing to do with the card game. This is not a problem for fans of the game that appreciate the poker analogies in the lyrics.
The song was not hugely successful upon release. Yet since then, it has accumulated a legion of fans. It’s worth noting that AC/DC also included poker in ‘Black to Back’, a title song from the album by the same name.
5. Ray Charles – Losing Hand
People have been singing about poker for decades, but the oldest recording available about a song that draws inspiration from the card game is Ray Charles’ ‘Losing Hand’. Cliché poker metaphors are the building blocks of the song, which also harness the power of poker to speak about love as a lost cause.
The legendary Ray Charles may not have been a poker player, but used the game to channel personal experiences. It’s a nicely packaged tune, with appropriate poker analogies.