New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Aside from mainstream sports like hockey, baseball and soccer, poker is perhaps the most popular and egalitarian game in Canada. Enjoyed by hundreds of millions worldwide, it’s not just a game to be played in smoky poker rooms or luxurious casinos.
It’s also the social game of choice for people looking to unwind with their friends after a long, hard week at work. There is one key ingredient to a perfect poker night that many forget though and that’s the soundtrack.
Whether you’re playing Texas Holdem poker online or duking it out with your friends in a hard fought home tournament, your experience will be elevated with the right music playing in the background.
Want to find out more? Read on to find out which tracks to put on your poker playlist.
Johnny Cash - The Gambler
We promise to not flood this article with puns and half-puns, but you will have to indulge us with this one. Written by Don Schiltz in 1976 and originally sung by Bobby Bare, The Gambler, as the name would suggest, is a song chronicling the dos and don’ts of playing poker.
In interviews Schiltz has alluded to the potential of the song as an allegory for life, the inspiration for which he credited to his late Father who died 3 years earlier. Speaking of the song, Schiltz said that he believed it was more than him that wrote the song. He is convinced that something was going through his head and that it was his father.
The song has been recorded by many artists, the most successful of which was Kenny Rogers. In our opinion though, the best version is this one from Johnny Cash.
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Formed in London in 1967, Fleetwood Mac began life as a British Blues band before transitioning into soft rock gods. Ten years after their formation, the band released the album Rumours which was ranked the 25th greatest album of all-time by Rolling Stone.
On it were a number of hits, amongst them The Chain, which was written by all five band members. The track begins in trademark laidback Mac fashion before injecting speed and energy in the final third.
It’s the perfect song for poker as it mirrors the dramatic changes in pace of the game. It’s also an absolutely brilliant song!
Rory Gallagher - Bad Penny
Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal in 1948 Rory Gallagher is one of the most underappreciated musicians of the 20th century - he’s the greatest guitarist you’ve never heard of.
Gallagher, who mostly dabbled in blues rock was a major influence on the likes of Brian May and Eric Clapton. Some of the tracks recorded with the band he formed in the 1960s Taste are well worth a listen, but for your poker playlist try out his solo hit Bad Penny.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
Released in November 1969 on the album Willy and the Poor Boys, Fortunate Son is one of the most famous rock songs ever made and is a tune guaranteed to get the blood pumping.
At a time when political instability was rife in the United States, the song became the anthem of the anti-Vietnam war movement.
Somewhat confusingly, the song has since been used in TV & Film and video games as an accompaniment to military action scenes.
Play it at your poker night though and it will not only get the blood pumping, it will fill you with confidence too.
Kanye West - Champion
It’s a bit of a change in genre but it’s a shift in gear that is well worth it. Kanye West’s 2007 album Graduation birthed some of the artist’s most underrated tracks, one of which is Champion.
Coming in at 2 minutes 47 it is one of the shorter songs on the album, so why not pair it up with another Kanye classic?
Power
Released in 2010 on the critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Power is the ultimate (pardon the pun) empowering hit.
The song was Kanye’s comeback after the so-so 808s & Heartbreak album and the Taylor Swift incident. Lyrically it is a triumph and is quite rightly considered one of the best songs released by Kanye.
If you’re short on confidence and need an ego boost, it’s the perfect song to get you ‘zoning’ as Kanye would say…
Abba - The Winner Takes It All
Playing poker with your friends should be fun and not all about getting in the zone and getting your blood pumping. The perfect song to end this article comes from Swedish super band Abba and it’s also the perfect song to end your poker night.
When the final hand has been played and one of you sits smugly at the table counting your winnings, get this song on and serenade your new poker night champion!
