From Kenny Rogers to Gordon Sumner, Elvis Presley to.erm, Clint Black, poker has influenced music for decades. But what tunes should be on your latest poker playlist? The Top 20 Songs About Gambling & Poker Casino Blog March 26, 2020 by Ari Waknine As time passes, the casino culture continues to grow, and many musicians continue to find inspiration in the highs and lows of gambling. In music, the best songs about poker capture its essential coolness. From OAR to Motorhead, these are some of the most fun songs about playing cards. You can listen to the songs right on this page, so think of this as a poker songs playlist for the next time you host a game at home.
Poker and music go together like strawberries and Wimbledon, like rhubarb and custard, like England and World Cup woe. But what are the best poker related songs?
We delved deep into the back catalogue of music history to find seven songs that you might want to add into your next playlist on Spotify, iTunes or your own chosen music hub. So sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy our deep listen to seven classic poker tracks.
Kenny Rogers - The Gambler
What's it about?
Kenny isn't just chillaxing at his faux-mahoghany partner desk.He's come bearing some serious poker knowledge, all courtesy of an old drunk he met on a train, presumably bound for 'Value Town'. Turns out him and his banjaxed buddy can strike a trade. Every bit of Kenny's contraband is up for grabs as he pawns the lot for some words of wisdom. Rogers told The Muppet Show that 'The Gambler' in question died in his sleep when he 'broke even'. Hey, at least he passed on the nugget of information to Kenny that he should know when to hold 'em or fold 'em.
Performance
The Gambler got to #1 on the U.S. Country music Billboard chart, but only reached #16 on the main countdown. Oddly, it performed even worse in the U.K., getting to #22 when it was released in November 1978. But it reached #8 in Canada.
Best Lyric
Someone never listened to the maxim that should be aware of your chipstack and others at all times:
'You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done.'
The Weepies - Vegas Baby
What's it about?
Put simply, Vegas Baby is all about leaving your regular life behind and hitting the road for a trip to Las Vegas. Countless thousands do it every year at World Series time, so as the song states, 'Slip the traffic like a noose, on the trail of some mirage.' That mirage is Las Vegas and the spirit of poker players is evident throughout the song.
Performance
Released only on the 2003 album 'Happiness', Vegas Baby is a bit of a hidden gem. An independent release, the album gave The Weepies a platform for huge success, signing to Nettwerk after it's popularity grew a devoted fanbase.
Best Lyric
Just when you think you might be out of luck, a trip to Vegas can always turn it around:
'Every time it comes
I think my luck will stay
Drive all the way
To Vegas baby.'
Clint Black - A Good Run of Bad Luck
What's it about?
Created as part of the soundtrack to the 1994 movie Maverick, starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, the song - and music video - deals with the twin aims of many a poker player, namely striking it lucky at the felt and with one lucky lady. Triumphing over any run of bad luck, our hero in the song must overcome his inability to master bankroll management ('A high roller even when the chips are down') and a cripplingly bad run with a short-stack when it comes to ending the night with the girl of his dreams ('squeezin' out a thin dime 'til there's no one hanging on my arm').
Performance
The hilarious music video (directed by Black himself, natch) features footage of the film Maverick interspersed with Clint Black's band prancing around on a floor similar to how your last home game ended when Gavin threw the deck all over your kitchen floor before promising never to 'return to this crap den ever again' on his way out, slamming the door I might add. Ahem. Anyway, the song reached #1 on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts, ending 1994 as the 20th best country song released. That sounded better before being written down.
Best Lyric
If this is Clint Black's logic, we're playing for 'rolls the second he wants to, in any poker room he fancies from King's Casino to Dusk Till Dawn.
'If I'm bettin' on a loser, I'm gonna have a devil to pay
But it's the only game I know to play, it doesn't matter anyway.'
Sting - Shape of My Heart
What's it about?
Sting has described the subject of his song released on 1st August 1993 as 'a card player, a gambler who gambles not to win but to try to figure out some kind of mystical logic in luck, or chance; some kind of scientific, almost religious law.' If that sounds too pompous for you, then do remember that this is Sting we're talking about. It's a great song, but it even mixes up it's game references, with the line 'He may play the jack of diamonds, he may lay the queen of spades' clearly a reference to the 19th-century French game of Bezique, the declaration of those two cards being the name of the game.
Performance
The album from which Shape of My Heart is taken was 'Ten Summoner's Tales', which came out in 1993. Shape of My Heart itself only reached #57 in the U.K. and failed to chart at all on the U.S. Billboard, although popular samples of the song helped Sugababes and Craig David reach numbers #2 and #11 respectively. Fact: the original song plays over the end credits of the film Léon, which stars Jean Reno and Natalie Portman.
Best Lyric
Can't even look ironic about this chorus. It's really good. In fact, it's almost tantric:
'I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart'
Frank Sinatra - Luck be a Lady
What's it about?
Ladies have been compared to many things over the years, but luck in poker? Actually, yeah. Sinatra's soothing tones weren't the first to sprinkle magic over the track, which was written in 1950 and featured in the musical Guys and Dolls. But he brings to life the idea that a lady might be appropriate to the luck of the roll, be it cards or, as Frank croons it, 'A lady doesn't wander all over the room and blow on some other guy's dice.'
Performance
Best Gambling Songs
Not many songs have been sung by both Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, but Luck be a Lady is one of them. It was also covered by Chrissie Hyde and Barbara Streisand, but the song was originally recorded by Robert Alda, who in a nod to Sinatra's love of whiskey - possibly - appeared in two episodes of the sitcom, M*A*S*H.
Best Lyric
Something tells me that our imagined gambler needs to hit a seven at the craps table:
'A lady wouldn't make little snake eyes at me
When I've got my life on this roll.'
AC/DC - The Jack
What's it about?
In the light of recent (and right) balancing of gender roles in society, AC/DC's lyrics for this song look more than a little dated. Scott and Young's later assertion that the song is about a venereal disease ('The Jack' is Australian slang for Gonorrhea) when they sang 'That all the cards were coming from the bottom of the pack, and if I'd known what she was dealin' out, I'd have dealt it back' only make the song sound more tawdry.
Performance
The Jack was taken from the album T.N.T. which wasn't quite as explosive as AC/DC might think. If anything, ironically, it wasn't a current hit, yet has acquired fans over the years. An independent release for Albert Productions in 1975, either side of the Australian and International releases of High Voltage. The later albums Highway to Hell (1979) and Back in Black (1980) would become much bigger hits for the Australian band.
Best Lyric
Unless you're sure, don't always trust that your high card is going to hold:
'She was holdin' a pair
But I had to try,
Her deuce was wild
But my ace was high.'
Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas
What's it about?
Best Songs For Poker
A love letter to the home of poker, Presley's rendition of Viva Las Vegas continues to capture the imagination gamblers from Nevada to New York and far beyond. The lyrics tell the tale of a city that is famed for 'turning day into nighttime, turning night into daytime. If you see it once, you'll never be the same again.' An endless travel brochure in song form, it is Las Vegas' greatest calling card and the theme tune to thousands of poker players' World Series dreams.
Performance
How can a song that peaked at #29 in the charts become such an iconic tune? Marketability and exposure. Originally recorded as lead song for the film of the same name where Elvis Presley plays Lucky Jackson, a race car driver who travels to Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in a Grand Prix, the song has been covered by dozens of artists during the years since. Viva Las Vegas reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart, improving to #15 after a reissue in 2007. It is, essentially, the best song about poker purely because it embodies the essence of the game's spritual home. Amazingly, the King of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley never performed the song live.
Best Lyric
In one line, the song's writers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman sum up the appeal of 'Sin City'.
'Oh, that blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel
A fortune might be lost on every deal
All you need is sonar and nerves of steel'
So there you have it. Load up those tunes and make every partypoker LIVE tournament you play a journey you'll always have a soundtrack for. If we've missed any of your favourite tracks to play to, simply comment below and let us know!
Would you like to write for partypokerLIVE? Every article we publish will be rewarded with a ticket worth $109 on partypoker. Read all about how you can become a writer for partypokerLIVE here!
18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org. Play responsibly
You will often find many Poker players sitting at land based Poker tables with a set of headphones on and they will be listening to a range of different music tracks whilst playing real money Poker games and are taking part in Poker Tournaments.
Whilst you may think that listening to music could be very distracting to a player when they should be concentrating their efforts on playing each hand dealt out to them, many players often find it can help with their game play and will therefore play all of their favourite music tracks when playing Poker.
Games like caesar. Below are the top 10 songs and music tracks many Poker players tend to listen to when playing, maybe it will be worth you getting yourself a copy of some of these songs and music racks and have them playing in your headphones when you next sit down to play Poker, you never know it may bring another dimension to your Poker play!
1. To Deserve You by Deja Vu featuring Tasmin
InahiaDeejay
Originally used in the Queer as Folk (UK) soundtrack, this funky hard house cover of the Bette Midler song is brilliant for keeping concentration up. The steady bass and gripping melody make it exceptionally easy to concentrate on your hand while also listening to the track. The funky bass rhythm and the use of minimal instruments also make To Deserve You a very pleasant piece to play along to.
Word of warning however, like most of De ja Vu's remixes, it is highly addictive!
2. You and I by Crystal Fighters
Crystal Fighters
The Jack was taken from the album T.N.T. which wasn't quite as explosive as AC/DC might think. If anything, ironically, it wasn't a current hit, yet has acquired fans over the years. An independent release for Albert Productions in 1975, either side of the Australian and International releases of High Voltage. The later albums Highway to Hell (1979) and Back in Black (1980) would become much bigger hits for the Australian band.
Best Lyric
Unless you're sure, don't always trust that your high card is going to hold:
'She was holdin' a pair
But I had to try,
Her deuce was wild
But my ace was high.'
Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas
What's it about?
Best Songs For Poker
A love letter to the home of poker, Presley's rendition of Viva Las Vegas continues to capture the imagination gamblers from Nevada to New York and far beyond. The lyrics tell the tale of a city that is famed for 'turning day into nighttime, turning night into daytime. If you see it once, you'll never be the same again.' An endless travel brochure in song form, it is Las Vegas' greatest calling card and the theme tune to thousands of poker players' World Series dreams.
Performance
How can a song that peaked at #29 in the charts become such an iconic tune? Marketability and exposure. Originally recorded as lead song for the film of the same name where Elvis Presley plays Lucky Jackson, a race car driver who travels to Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in a Grand Prix, the song has been covered by dozens of artists during the years since. Viva Las Vegas reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart, improving to #15 after a reissue in 2007. It is, essentially, the best song about poker purely because it embodies the essence of the game's spritual home. Amazingly, the King of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley never performed the song live.
Best Lyric
In one line, the song's writers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman sum up the appeal of 'Sin City'.
'Oh, that blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel
A fortune might be lost on every deal
All you need is sonar and nerves of steel'
So there you have it. Load up those tunes and make every partypoker LIVE tournament you play a journey you'll always have a soundtrack for. If we've missed any of your favourite tracks to play to, simply comment below and let us know!
Would you like to write for partypokerLIVE? Every article we publish will be rewarded with a ticket worth $109 on partypoker. Read all about how you can become a writer for partypokerLIVE here!
18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org. Play responsibly
You will often find many Poker players sitting at land based Poker tables with a set of headphones on and they will be listening to a range of different music tracks whilst playing real money Poker games and are taking part in Poker Tournaments.
Whilst you may think that listening to music could be very distracting to a player when they should be concentrating their efforts on playing each hand dealt out to them, many players often find it can help with their game play and will therefore play all of their favourite music tracks when playing Poker.
Games like caesar. Below are the top 10 songs and music tracks many Poker players tend to listen to when playing, maybe it will be worth you getting yourself a copy of some of these songs and music racks and have them playing in your headphones when you next sit down to play Poker, you never know it may bring another dimension to your Poker play!
1. To Deserve You by Deja Vu featuring Tasmin
InahiaDeejay
Originally used in the Queer as Folk (UK) soundtrack, this funky hard house cover of the Bette Midler song is brilliant for keeping concentration up. The steady bass and gripping melody make it exceptionally easy to concentrate on your hand while also listening to the track. The funky bass rhythm and the use of minimal instruments also make To Deserve You a very pleasant piece to play along to.
Word of warning however, like most of De ja Vu's remixes, it is highly addictive!
2. You and I by Crystal Fighters
Crystal Fighters
This is a very heavy track by the Crystal Fighters. The bass is enough to keep you focussed, while the treble is well balanced with the vocals perfectly matched to the track.
Featuring heavy strings using the drone technique, you won't have to spend any time concentrating on it and you can have it playing in the background without it interfering in your session.
3. Poison by Alice Cooper
AliceCooperVEVO
Having heard this song from Alice Cooper several times, this is one of the many songs that poker players can listen to. Like most of the songs in this list, its bass line is heavy without being so bassy it's destroying your eardrums.
The quick tempo allows the mind to move at the same pace as the music, and you'll find decisions easier to make as your mind is naturally moving at the speed of the tempo. Also, listen up for the top note thrown in there for good measure!
4. Survivor (I Will Survive) by Destiny's Child
DestinysChildVEVO
This one really shouldn't work, however it does, but I suppose when you have 20+ musicians working on a single piece of music, you can make anything work! As one of the ultimate classics, ‘I Will Survive‘ has been injected with some new life thanks to the hybrid with Destiny's Child's ‘Survivor'.
The bass is well balanced, while the vocals have been expanded to the point where a philharmonic choir would struggle filling all the parts. This is another inoffensive track which makes great background listening when playing poker.
5. Poker Face by Lady Gaga
LadyGagaVEVO
This had to be featured! The heavy synth along with the unique timbre of Lady Gaga's voice work in perfect harmony providing an edgy track with a quick tempo, which will in turn keep you tuned in. The greatest thing about ‘Poker Face‘ is continuous repetition, which means the brain doesn't have to contemplate what's entering your ears.
6. Hush Hush/I Will Survive remix by Pussycat Dolls
Best Poker Songs Of All Time
ThePussycatDollsVEVO
This is a very good remix of a song by The Pussycat Dolls, offering a 90's funky house feel, yet still remaining loyal to its RnB roots, the consistent tempo, complete with a Samba type rhythm, you'll most likely find yourself tapping your foot while playing! Don't worry though, it's not distracting.
7. Top of the World by The Cataracs feat. Dev
TheCataracsVEVO
It's not often I'd put this onto a musical list, however, this song by The Cataracs, firmly falls in to the Schlager genre, and actually enjoyed a lot of play time in a lot of European Clubs, the funky beat coupled with a very simple melody will keep your mind sharp as the beat never changes, and at around 120bpm in 4 over 4 time, it's managed to secure itself into our list of music to listen to when playing poker.
8. Musica by Fly Project
Bovada reload bonus. Fly Records
This is another unusual one by Fly Project, however, as we're getting in to summer, we need to have at least one song that features heavy use of Spanish! This traditionally rhythmic Samba offers a very complex bass line, however, due to the way the final production was mixed down, the end product is exceptionally easy on the ears!
9. Makin' Luv (Club Radio Edit) by BBX
Bitcoin gambling sites. Kontor.TV
If you've ever heard any of BBX' stuff, you'll know that it is heavily geared towards the club scene, however, due to its heavy use of orchestral strikes and heavy repetition in the actual manuscript, you'll find this is a very good song to keep your mind alert without bombarding you with unnecessary sound, like overly heavy harmonies and complex syncopations.
10. Waterfall by Fran Marin feat Nalaya
Alex Quapper
As I'm on a roll with Euro pop/dance, I may as well finish as I started! This is one of the relatively unsuccessful songs that should have done much better, similar to David Guetta and Kelly Rowland's ‘Commander‘.
It offers a solid and well-rounded track with Nalaya's voice really coming through strong, which as she's a soprano is a feat in itself!
The track features heavy bass and synth; however, if you listen carefully you will hear the tinkle of the ivories from time to time. As the track is Euro pop, it is pretty fast, I clocked it at around 120bpm, however you'll also notice as with most of the tracks in this list, it is in the Minor/Flat Major, which for some reason makes the listener more in tune with it, and when you're in tune with the music, your body works at the same pace.
