Poker Music Playlist – What Songs You Can Listen to When Playing
9 minutes
Posted by: Ivan
Whether you play live or online poker, music can be an excellent addition to your experience. When talking about poker music, we can go on for ages and list thousands of songs and still not cover all of the options, as every poker player has different music preferences.
That said, this is a fascinating and unique topic that deserves a lot of attention. Setting the right mood when playing poker can even help you make better decisions.
So, you’re not only creating a more enjoyable gambling atmosphere for yourself. The right music can even help you be more successful in the game. With that in mind, let’s dive right into the best poker songs you can listen to when playing poker.
Creating the Best Poker Music Playlist
Figuring out a one-fits-all playlist for poker is pretty much impossible. It will largely depend on your general music preferences and the kind of player you are. However, we’re confident that every player out there will enjoy at least a few songs from this list.
Best Hype-Up Poker Songs
When it comes to hype-up poker songs, narrowing down the best of the best can be challenging. That said, we’ve summed up the most exciting, adrenaline-pumping, and invigorating poker music that is sure to make you excited and ready for any Texas Hold’em game. Here are the best hype-up poker songs you can listen to:
Bad to the Bone – George Thorogood
In line with the previous song, Bad to the Bone will surely make you feel like the “baddest” man (or woman) at the table. With hard lyrics and George Thorogood’s recognizable vocal rendition, you will indeed feel bad to the bone. This extra confidence boost will certainly come in handy during high-pressure poker situations.
We Will Rock You – Queen
Queen is known for having some of the most recognizable and widely used songs in music history, but when it comes to their best hype-up songs, none can top We Will Rock You. Regarded as one of the best rock songs of all time, it combines excellent lyrics and heavy chords to provide a rousing song for all rock fans. And, while it’s not about poker, it’s sure to get you pumped for a big poker session.
Back in Black – AC/DC
The song and the album of the same name, Back in Black, are AC/DC’s best work. With hard notes and bad boy lyrics, it’ll undoubtedly help you feel like The Man while playing poker. This hard rock classic is always worth listening to, especially for those recovering from a bad poker downswing and trying to pick up their game. An excellent hype poker song overall, Back in Black is a must-have on your poker playlist.
All I Wanna Do Is Play Cards – Corb Lund
Depending on your taste in music, this song might not actually hype you up, but it’s fast-paced enough to get your heart racing and eager for the game. Plus, since it’s a poker-themed song, it ticks all of the boxes when it comes to fun, lively songs with good lyrics.
Poison – Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is undoubtedly one of the genre-defining bands in the history of music. Combining glam rock and metal, their fast tempo and heavy bass line songs are ideal for pumping up before or at a big poker event. When it comes to the best Alice Cooper hype-up songs, none can top the iconic Poison song from their 1989 album Trash.
Know Your Enemy – Rage Against the Machine
Moving onto some harder songs, Rage Against the Machine is known as a band that can quickly build up a fiery atmosphere in its concerts. Known for its powerful lyrics that will ramp you up for any poker game you have prepared, Know Your Enemy is one of their songs that will undoubtedly help you build up your aggression at the poker table.
If you’re generally a timid player or often hesitant when playing poker, this song will help push you over the edge into making more courageous decisions.
Diamond Jack – Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash was an extremely popular band in the UK in the 70s but isn’t very well-known among rock fans from other parts of the world. However, one of their best songs, Diamond Jack, is undoubtedly one of the best gambling songs ever and rightfully deserves your attention. The song itself is filled with gambling terms, as it depicts an unfolding high-stakes poker game.
The Ace of Spades – Motorhead
Whether you’re looking to hype up before playing poker, keep the atmosphere high during your session, or vent after the game, The Ace of Spades is an excellent poker song for all of these purposes.
The iconic Lemmy Kilmister was an avid fan of casino games, so it’s to no surprise that many of Motorhead’s songs reference casinos or gambling. When it comes to The Ace of Spades, in particular, lines like “Pushing up the ante, I know you gotta see me,” this song is all about the thrill that comes with playing poker.
Pokerface – Ghostface Killah
Although the Lady Gaga song of the same name is an excellent “poker song” in its own right, Pokerface by Ghostface Killah is actually about poker hands, bluffing, winning, and losing, all mashed up through a fantastic lyrical flow. It even features samples from real World Series of Poker tournament coverage and quotes from one of the greatest poker movies ever, Rounders.
Best Poker Music for Relaxation
On some occasions, you’ll feel too excited and nervous before the game, and the last thing you’d need would be a fast-paced and exciting song to further ramp you up. In such cases, it’s best to have a separate list of songs you can listen to wind down and relax before or while playing the game. With that in mind, we’ve summed up the best relaxation poker music you can listen to:
The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
A song that’s literally about gambling and the most critical aspects that come with it, Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler is an old-school country/rock song ideally suited for relaxing at the poker table. It’s undoubtedly one of the most popular poker songs among players, mainly due to the famous line,
You’ve gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold’em.
Back in the Game – Wu-Tang Clan
One of the first mainstream hip-hop groups, Wu-tang Clan, is known for having some of the genre’s best songs. Known for their hardcode hip hop style, their song Back in the Game is the perfect choice if you want to get hyped up before or during a poker game. It’s a hard song with strong lyrics and will surely boost your mood as soon as you hear it.
Slip Out the Back – Fort Minor
Fort Minor is the side project of Mike Shinoda, a member of Linkin Park. Aside from Slip out the Back, Fort Minor is credited for many other excellent motivational and hype-up songs such as Remember the Name, Believe me, and Rising Ted. Slip out the Back relays the antihero theme, which most of us can relate to a lot of the time.
Best Day of My Life – American Authors
Although this is not a poker-related song like most on our page, and it’s fairly upbeat, it will surely put a smile on your face and help you relax while playing. If you’re looking for a quick shot of Endorphin, this catchy song by the American Authors will bring positivity to your mindset as soon as you hear it.
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
The title itself is a perfect advert for every poker player who’s experienced the highs and lows of poker. Don’t Stop Believing is certainly one of the most iconic songs. Countless artists have covered it over the years. But, the original version by Journey, which came out four decades ago, is still equally good to listen to today and a very popular poker track for many male and female poker players alike.
Deuces Wild – Aerosmith
Depending on your musical preferences, you can list this song in either your relaxation or energy mix. This song has several direct references to poker, making it not only a great choice for playing poker but an excellent poker-themed song in general. With lines like “cause you and me is two of a king,” grammar aside, this song is great for putting you in the mood for some poker.
The Stranger – Leonard Cohen
The Stranger is the perfect melancholic song, as students of Cohen’s music still haven’t managed to discern whether he’s singing about gambling, drugs, alcohol abuse, or something else in this hauntingly peaceful song. Even though Cohen is no longer with us, his simplistic songs like The Stranger still carry a unique and comfortable tune.
Still the Same – Bob Seger
An excellent feel-good song that will relax you to your core and play without any stress, Still the Same by legendary Bob Seger is actually about a successful gambler who’s been on a roll his entire life. If you want to feel like one when playing poker, this song is a must-have on your playlist.
Little Queen of Spades – Robert Johnson
Little Queen of Spades came out over 80 years ago, but it still hits home ever after so much time. This song is very popular among gambling fans, as it’s filled with many gambling references, starting with the title of the song itself. There’s also a great version of this song by Eric Clapton for players looking for a more modern version of this blues hit.
Desperado – The Eagles
The Eagles are known for having some of the best rock ballads around. Their song Desperado often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, as it certainly falls under this category. Not only is it an excellent song for relaxation and enjoyment, but it’s also filled with many poker hands and gambling references.
What Poker Songs Are Going On Your List?
From songs about poker to scores that can perfectly accompany your poker experience and make it more enjoyable, you have endless options when it comes to poker music.
There are so many songs out there, so you have tremendous freedom in making your playlist unique and best suited to your music preferences.
Even on this list, you can find many different genres, including rock, pop, metal, hip-hop, and even the blues. Hopefully, this detailed page has helped you draft an awesome poker music playlist that will keep you entertained and engaged for a long time to come.
All that’s left now is to put on your headphones, set up your poker chips, and enjoy your time at the tables even more!
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