Most people who engage in intense physical and mental activities swear by their favorite music playlists. The right song can help to put you in the right mood and mindset. Bodybuilders like heavy metal and EDM; athletes often opt for hip-hop. But poker players? They prefer something a little bit different. They like songs that are connected to playing the cards right and taking down opponents.
Those preferences don’t always call too many specific tracks to mind. But here, we’ve made a list of the most inspiring hits out there for poker players….
Queen – “We Will Rock You”
Between Netflix’s crowd-pleasing documentary The Show Must Go On and the polarizing but enjoyable biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen has become newly relevant in recent years. Folks are coming back to this classic, one-of-a-kind rock band. Then again, “We Will Rock You” never really left the spotlight. One of the catchiest and most recognizable rock songs ever made, it’s been pumping up stadium crowds for decades.
Unsurprisingly, “We Will Rock You” is also a phenomenal song to get you in the mood for a powerful poker play. Although they don’t sing about casinos or gambling culture, with this one Queen pretty much made the definitive track for anyone who wants to get ready to take down opponents.
Motorhead – “Ace of Spades”
Motorhead is going to put you in the right mood right from the start. First and foremost, that’s because the song we’re singling out is called “Ace Of Spades,” which speaks for itself! Additionally though, fans of the group know that singer/songwriter Lemmy Kilmister was a poker lover himself. It’s no wonder gambling is a theme in more than just a song or two of Motorhead’s….
Another reason this one makes the list is that we can at least safely assume it’s in the rotation for Phil Hellmuth –– aka the “Poker Brat,” and one of the best poker players of all time. Hellmuth is known to enjoy rock music from the ‘80s and ‘90s, even listening to it frequently while he plays. It’s a safe bet Motorhead has squeezed onto a playlist or two of the Brat’s.
Kenny Rogers – “The Gambler”
“The Gambler” doesn’t need much introduction. The famous line – “You’ve gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold’ em” – is essentially a chorus for any poker enthusiast. Accordingly, despite Kenny Rogers being somewhat old-school at this point, beginning and seasonal players alike tend to appreciate this song. It’s part of gambling culture.
Somehow, the song takes you back to even before Rogers’s time, making you envision the 19th-century poker rooms of the Old West. It’s just a phenomenal throwback, and one that will always get you in the mood to play. Hell, the song even has its own film series.
Alice Cooper – “Poison”
No, this song isn’t about gambling. But its fast pace and powerful bass line will surely put you in the mood for winning, not just at poker, but at life. “Poison” was released in the late eighties, and it’s the biggest hit from Alice Cooper’s 18th album. It charted all over Europe and the U.S. So try it out as your poker song today. You won’t regret it –– we promise.
Bob Dylan – “Huck’s Tune”
You could do a lot worse than a narrative tune by a guy who won the world’s highest literary honor for song lyrics, right? Well, as you might expect “Huck’s Tune” is one of a seemingly endless string of brilliant songs Bob Dylan produced. And this one, at least in part, has to do with poker.
“Huck’s Tune” won’t get your adrenaline flowing like some of the other songs on this list. In fact, it will pretty much mellow you out and make you pensive. Nevertheless, it’s still a song that will get poker on your mind.
There are undoubtedly more songs worth considering, but these five will get you off to a nice start with your poker playlist!