Everyone has their music preferences for any occasion: parties, weddings, celebrations and even gambling. When you gamble at a Vegas Casino (as I have), you tend to hear upbeat rock/pop songs that create a lively atmosphere. Playing online, you can pick and choose your playlist. If you listen to mellow music, it can relax you, while fast-paced rock music can boost your energy levels and motivate you to play on and go for that elusive win. Ultimately, the ultimate gambling playlist will depend on each individual.
Poker seems to be a popular topic in songs about gambling; however, other music compositions connected to gambling can be inspiring and pleasing when you are gambling. Although there aren’t many songs about roulette, blackjack, or slots, there are numerous inspiring songs you can listen to while you spin the slot reels. They can help your mind to focus on the game and create a positive vibe. Here we look at the ultimate gambling playlist with gambling-related tracks that will knock your socks off while you go for that elusive jackpot.
Motörhead – Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades is Motörhead’s most famous song. It starts with a pounding bassline and frantic drum beat, creating an adrenaline rush with a smattering of double-meaning poker terminology thrown in your face. The lyrics and music are straightforward and ‘in your face,’ and Ace of Spades is singer/bassist Lemmy’s finest moments. When you consider Lemmy was an avid gambler himself, it’s no wonder that the song captures the excitement of playing poker with gusto! The definitive Motorhead gambling anthem has inspired slot machines with a dedicated slot simply called Motörhead.
The song is Lemmy’s rant against the losing spin of slot machines he used to play in London pubs. Lemmy replaced slot fruit symbols with poker. The Ace of Spades ranks among the top ten heavy rock songs of all time, and you are likely to hear it in a Vegas casino while you spin the slot reels. Lemmy makes no qualms about gambling; instead, the song is a celebration of high-stakes and the fast-paced thrills of card games with a warning about the dangers and pitfalls of gambling. It will undoubtedly put you in the mood for a few spins or hands of poker and thoroughly deserves to be first on this list.
AC/DC – The Jack
The Jack by AC/DC was released way back in the mid-’70s and has endured to this day due to its clever double-meanings, poker phrases and sex. The classic blues rocker is full of poker references like ‘she has been shuffled before’ and ‘I’ve never had a Royal Flush before.’ The Jack has a slow, burning rhythm full of sexual innuendos and poker terminology that will put you in the mood while you gamble away. Even casual gamblers will appreciate the analogies at the heart of this classic song from the band’s debut album High Voltage. Who can forget lyrics like “her deuces were wild, but my ace was high,” or “she said she’d never had a full house!” AC/DC alters the lyrics when they play the song live with more explicitly sexual lyrics, but the original remains a favourite among gamblers.
The Eagles – Desperado
Desperado by The Eagles is an emotional song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and the ballad is full of poker references. The song is about a lonesome bandit running from the law and contemplating the prison in solitude and dying alone. It boils down to a lucky card draw and features lyrics such as “don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, she will beat you if she can” and “the queen of hearts is your best bet.” Although a downbeat track, Desperado successfully captures the solitude and lifestyle of gambling perfectly.
Elvis Presley – Viva Las Vegas
No gambling playlist should exclude Viva Las Vegas by legendary American singer Elvis Presley. He was the king of Las Vegas, and although the song was recorded way back in 1963, it still resonates today. The song isn’t as philosophical as many others on this list; instead, it is a celebration of this song; it merely depicts the fun of playing blackjack, poker and roulette in Las Vegas. It is a straightforward pop song that almost seems like an advertisement for Vegas.
The evergreen tune forever associated Vegas with the King, and he had numerous concerts on the city of sin in his day. Not many songs can put you in the mood to gamble as Viva Las Vegas. The song isn’t just a fantastic gambling song; it is the anthem of Sin City! Elvis mentions poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and even slot machines using the old-school term ‘one-armed bandits.’
Stevie Nicks – The Dealer
Lead singer of legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac Stevie Nicks also enjoyed considerable success with her solo career. The Dealer was written back in 1979 and features on her multi-million selling album 24 Karat Gold, Songs From The Vault. The song tackles topics like love and regret and contains several card references. Stevie Nicks is the song’s dealer who holds all the cards and refers to herself as a card shark.
Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Poker Face is a more recent song than the ones mentioned so far, and it’s hard to ignore the smash hit by Lady Gaga. It uses poker as a metaphor, along with plenty of references to gambling. The booming track will help you create a party atmosphere ideal for a poker game or two. Lady Gaga managed to capitalize on the poker boom and kick-started her singing career with the smash hit. It draws parallels between love and poker, with an infectious beat and plenty of sexual innuendoes. There are poker-fuelled lyrics such as ‘I wanna hold em’ just like they do in Texas,’ and Lady Gaga holds all the cards with the smash hit and global chart-topper.
Conclusion
Let’s round off the ultimate gambling playlist with Aerosmith’s Deuces are Wild, Linkin Park’s One Step Closer, Tex Ritter’s Deck of Cards, and Frank Sinatra’s Luck Be a Lady. They are all legit gambling songs that deserve to be on the playlist, and if you choose the right music while gambling, you will enhance your playing experience and perhaps improve your mood. That way, you will be in the right frame of mind to win while you gamble.