Poker is back in style, as online poker revenues soared in 2020. The term’s search volume hit a five-year peak, and social poker apps also noticed a substantial rise in installs. Thus, it seems like this is a perfect time to suggest music that goes along with some card action since everyone is getting back into Texas Hold ’em. Below, we provide a few musical themes to get you in the mood when sitting at a virtual green-cloth table.
Lounge Jazz
If you are too young to know what lounge music is, it was a genre popular in the 1950s and 1960s, played at public venues, evoking feelings of tranquility. It is music that aims to put people at ease. The earliest examples of it date back to the 1920s when people described it as light or easy-listening music. Today, you can hear it played at hotel lobbies, casinos, supermarkets, restaurants, and piano bars.
You have likely seen western movies of cowboys playing cards at a saloon with a piano player in the background, slamming keys while reading sheets of paper. That is parlor music, which has a similar goal to lounge, but it is not the same. Lounge music derives from jazz, and you can find a ton of albums that feature chill-out tunes from this genre that will caress your ears when you play online poker. Quality artists/performers to look out for when it comes to lounge jazz include Talon Bourne, Aiden Carter, Dane Emerson, Kurt Bowett Trio, Ramsey Gold, and others. If these are not to your liking, you can stick to the legends, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, or blast a little John Coltrane. They should provide an excellent soundtrack to your gambling adventure.
Rockabilly
Poker requires concentration. Thus, you do not want something overly distracting in the back that can lead you to make bad calls because your mind was not in the game. So, heavy metal and other types of super-aggressive music are out of the equation.
You want atmospheric but upbeat tunes that get you in the groove to think fast, motivating you to be bold. Something that, ironically, you can tune out at times. Rockabilly does just that. It is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll, blending county and rhythm and blues into a stunning concoction. The reason why rockabilly works so well is that it adds a classic feel to poker and features songs that are pop-culture mainstays, ones that we all know and have heard hundreds of times. Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Roy Orbison, and Buddy Holly are just a few juggernauts to choose from this genre. Everyone can hum I Drove All Night, Not Fade Away, and All Shock Up while doing something else.
Poker-Themed Playlist
Now, if you are enjoying poker, what better idea than to hit play on a list consisting entirely of poker-themed songs. If you are thinking – there is not enough of those, you are not correct. This card game has served as an inspiration to musicians throughout decades. While Poker Face by Lady Gaga and Ace of Spades by Motörhead is the first to pop into most music connoisseurs’ minds, there are many others.
Other quality poker-themed tracks are On the Nickel performed by Tom Waits, Wishbone Ash’s Diamond Jack, Stevie Nicks’ the Dealer, the Clash’s the Card Cheat, Bob Seger’s Still the Same, and many others. Did you know that rapper Ghostface Killah has a song titled Pokerface, or that Ray Charles had a poker song titled Losing Hand? If you are willing to do the legwork, you will surely be able to compile a playlist of more than thirty poker-themed songs on YouTube.
To Wrap Up
The suggestions above are just that. What kind of music you like is a matter of personal preference. That does not change when it comes to blending music with another activity. Some players like to listen to Wagner and Beethoven when looking at cards, while others prefer to do the latter with hip-hop in the background. Whatever choice you make, make sure that it provides comfort that reduces stress, improves mood, and enables clear thinking when sitting at your virtual table.
About the Author
Shelly Schiff has been working in the gambling industry since 2009, mainly on the digital side of things, employed by OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com. However, over her eleven-year career, Shelly has provided content for many other top interactive gaming websites. She knows all there is to know about slots and has in-depth knowledge of the most popular table games. Her golden retriever Garry occupies most of her leisure time. Though, when she can, she loves reading Jim Thompson-like crime novels.
