What is it about gambling that makes it such a common theme in music hits? Sure, casinos are often associated with glitz, glamour, and Armani suits at the high-stakes poker table. As such, they make great backdrops for visual storytelling and drama. But that’s only a surface-level interpretation. Gambling is symbolic of all the risks we take in all areas of our lives, such as our careers, or our romantic pursuits. Many music videos love to play with this symbolism, which is why some of the greatest hits from the past few decades feature gambling scenes.
These songs look to stir up emotion and excitement in their listeners. That’s why they can be a great addition to your gaming playlist. To make the whole experience even better, you should gamble at sites that give out bonuses with no strings attached. The no wagering casino Australia list features a bunch of sites that let you skip the hassle of having to wager your winning before you withdraw them. If you’re ready, let’s go through the new potential additions to your gambling playlist and their music videos.
“Poker Face” by Lady Gaga
The usage of gambling elements in Gaga’s iconic song starts with the name. The title “Poker Face” is a direct nod to the poker strategy of maintaining an unreadable expression to conceal one’s emotions or intentions. This stoicism is crucial in bluffing, a key tactic in poker. Players must try to mislead their opponents about the strength of their cards. In the context of the song, it represents her ability to hide her true feelings from her romantic interest. She uses the phrase ‘’He can’t read my poker face’’ to compare their relationship to a game of poker, where she has to put on an unreadable face to mask her vulnerabilities.
The music video itself surprisingly isn’t overflowing in gambling scenes. There’s one scene where Lady Gaga is at the poker table. She pulls a pair of aces, often referred to as ‘’pocket rockets’’ in Texas Hold’Em. It’s considered the best-starting hand you could possibly get in poker. Safe to say that Lady Gaga has the upper hand in this dynamic.
“Waking Up in Vegas” by Katy Perry
This video follows an amusing narrative of Katy Perry and her on-screen boyfriend as they climb the ladder of gambling luck. They start out at some run-down place with only one slot machine, and slowly rise up and at the high-stake poker tables. The video gets progressively more glamorous as they win more and more money – followed by the inevitable comedic chaos when luck runs out.
Seasoned punters will easily recognize all gambling elements. There’s the 777 jackpot symbol, which could stand for the instant gratification that follows the couple throughout the video. There are also slot machines and dice rolls, as unpredictable as gambling and life itself. The lyrics and the video explore the theme of recklessness and spontaneity, but also blaming one another when luck runs out. Though not as popular as California Gurls, this video is a perfect example of Katy Perry’s trademark creativity in visuals and storytelling.
‘’Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis Presley
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Elvis’s enduring popularity can be attributed to the electrifying energy that every one of his songs emits, and none does it better than Viva Las Vegas. The song kicks off with a fiery declaration of adventure, as Elvis sings about a city that’s ready to set his soul ablaze. From the “neon flashin’” to the thrill of blackjack, poker, and roulette, the lyrics celebrate the rush of gambling and living on the edge. Elvis longs for more than 24 hours in a day just to soak it all in.
He doesn’t want any regrets and keeps rolling the dice all night long. This devil-may-care attitude is at the heart of both the song and the city it celebrates. And fun fact—there’s no standalone music video for “Viva Las Vegas.” The closest thing we have is the lively scene from the movie of the same name.
‘’24K Magic” by Bruno Mars
The 777 jackpot symbol makes a comeback in this video that is less focused on storytelling and more on the lavish visuals. The video opens with Bruno and his crew cruising in style. The focus of the video is on showcasing wealth through parties, designer fashion, and champagne. There’s a nod to gambling culture with scenes set in a casino environment. Bruno’s charismatic performance ties it all together, making the casino backdrop feel like a natural part of the luxurious lifestyle he’s promoting.
‘’Out of Touch” by Uniting Nations
Released in 2004, ‘’Out of Touch’’ brings a fresh, dance-pop spin to the classic Hall Oates track from the 1980s. The video takes place at a poker table, and the players are a man and several beautiful videos. After the fast-paced shots of popping champagne and dancing on tables, we find out that the man is actually cheating and knows everyone’s cards, thanks to a hidden earphone.
The song and video had a significant cultural impact in Europe, especially in the UK, where it became a club anthem. It resonated with fans of dance music and contributed to the popularity of vocal house tracks dominating the charts during that era.