MusicJay
The casino is one of the world’s leading entertainment industries, offering the adrenalin rush of winning money along with glitz and glamour. The casino is featured in many Hollywood hits, from romances to mafia crime movies. Many greats such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Dean Martin have performed at a casino on more than one occasion to say the least, whether behind the camera or performing live. In fact, the casino has become such a main part of modern life artists have taken inspiration from the poker tables and roulette wheels and written songs about the highs and lows of gambling. You should hit up the table game and slots online put some gambling tunes on and have a high rolling day of your own.
Listed below are five well-known songs inspired by the City of Sin and her many vices.
Motorhead – Ace of Spades
This iconic rock anthem released in 1980 is recognised the world over for its opening baseline. The Ace Of Spades features lyrics touching on gambling metaphors – mainly cards and dice.
If you like to gamble I tell you,
I’m your man
You win some, lose some
It’s all the same to me
Gomez – Las Vegas Dealer
English rock band Gomez write a love song and question the relationship’s future with gambling references.
All my chips are down, my precious chips are almost gone Find a better caller, dealer man without a son Put it all on one, I feel like number one is on now
Yeah, whether we win or lose, whether we win or lose Yeah, whether we win or lose
Kenny Rogers – The Gambler
In 1978 western legend Kenny Rogers tells the tale about a poker game between a man and a gambler on a train. After the gambler is “out of aces” and takes a swallow of whiskey, he goes on to give some life advice in the language of the casino:
You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away and know when to run. You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.
Ray Charles – Blackjack
Blackjack is blues song about an unlucky gambler whose favourite game is 21. A great fact about this song is that Charles wrote it in honour of guitarist T. Bone Walker after winning all his money whilst playing blackjack.
Hey hey hey yeah; How unlucky can one man be;
Well every quarter I get; Lord, blackjack takes it away from me.
Elvis Presley – Viva Las Vegas
This one just had to make the list; after all, it’s a song all about casinos, gambling and the City Of Sin. Who can do it better than Elvis? Let these lyrics decide for you:
How I wish that there were more Than the twenty-four hours in the day Cos even if there were forty more I wouldn’t sleep a minute away Oh, there’s black jack and poker and the roulette wheel A fortune won and lost on every deal All you need’s a strong heart and a nerve of steel Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
There are many songs that have taken inspiration from the casino, whether using the endless list of metaphors taken from the world of gambling or using direct references to the games and tables that bring so much joy and despair.
