Such is the love for the game of poker, it has transcended into other aspects of life, including music. Recently, Global Poker released a list of the top 100 poker songs of all time. There are so many different feelings related to the game of poker, making it the perfect topic for a song. Read on as we bring you the top 3 poker songs everyone knows.
Ace of Spades – Motorhead
There is only one place to start when discussing the top poker songs, and that is Ace of Spades by Motorhead. Straight from the title of the song, you begin to think about playing cards, and the ace of spades is perhaps the most iconic of all the cards in the deck.
The single was released in 1980 and only reached number 15 in the official UK singles chart in November. However, the album of the same title reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and earned gold status, making it the most commercially successful album ever produced by Motorhead. The Ace of Spades song uses a series of gambling metaphors in the lyrics, mostly based on playing cards and dice, but Lemmy admitted that he preferred to play the slots.
However, the spinning reels and fruit symbols did not make for good lyrics, and that is why the band opted for cards and dice. Following the death of Lemmy in December 2015, Ace of Spades went to the top of the UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts in January 2016.
Poker Face – Lady Gaga
The most recent hit out of our best poker songs selection, is Poker Face by Lady Gaga. This song even includes the word ‘poker’ in the title, so we could not leave it out. Released in September 2008, the main theme of Poker Face is bisexuality, and there are many sexual innuendos throughout the song.
However, there are also poker references in the song and the accompanying music video, which shows Lady Gaga playing a game of strip poker. In fact, Lady Gaga said the main idea behind Poker Face was gambling and sex. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Lady Gaga’s second consecutive number-one song.
If we look at some of the lyrics, there are plenty of poker references, with “Fold ’em, let ’em, hit me, raise it, baby, stay with me”, “A little gambling is fun when you’re with me”, and “No, he can’t read my poker face” being three good examples.
Desperado – The Eagles
Desperado featured on the album of the same name by The Eagles but interestingly, it was never released as a single. The album was the second studio album released by The Eagles, and it was not a huge commercial success.
The album, released in April 1973, debuted on the US Billboard 200 chart at number 145 and rose to number 41 at its peak. Both singles the band released from the album failed to get into the top 50 in the main singles chart, but Desperado was included in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.
There are plenty of poker references throughout the song, including “don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy, she’ll beat you if she’s able” plus many more. Desperado was not released as a single, but it is one of the top poker songs everyone knows.
In the symphony of music, poker has found its rhythm, and these top 3 poker songs resonate universally.
Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” epitomizes the game’s essence, with gambling metaphors weaving through the lyrics. The Eagles’ “Desperado” despite not being a single, is a poker-infused masterpiece enshrined in musical history. Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” a chart-topping anthem, cleverly intertwines themes of bisexuality, gambling, and sex.
Each song reflects the diverse facets of poker, proving its influence in the harmonies of iconic tunes that everyone knows and celebrates.
