- There are plenty of songs inspired by blackjack, ranging from the 1950s to the 2020s.
- Ray Charles has multiple songs that reference the popular song game, most notably the 1958 properly titled “Blackjack.”
- Other famous musicians like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Kenny Powers have published songs inspired by blackjack.
LAS VEGAS – With blackjack being one of the most popular casino games, it’s meshed with pop culture on numerous occasions. There’s plenty of instances of blackjack in movies, but the game may have appeared more times in songs.
Ranging from older artists like Ray Charles and Elvis Presley to current artists like Amine, blackjack has been in music for decades. Here are some of the most popular songs with lyrics inspired by blackjack from all different eras.
Blackjack, Losing Hand by Ray Charles (1950s)
Often recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time, Ray Charles had plenty of gambling references in his discography. He even titled one of his songs “Blackjack,” featured on his fourth studio album titled “Yes Indeed!” released in 1958.
He tells his experiences with the game and how he would always lose trying to play the game. Charles clearly didn’t have any systems and strategies for blackjack, as his lyrics are pessimistic about the game and presented in a slow Blues style.
Charles had another Blues hit about blackjack around the same time titled “Losing Hand.” This song tells how risking and losing money is similar to betting on love. His signature line from the song is “I gambled on your love baby, and I got a losing hand.”
Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley (1960s)
Known as the “King of Rock and Roll” and one of the most culturally significant people in the 20th century, Elvis Presley has one of the most iconic casino songs of all time. The song titled “Viva Las Vegas” is dedicated to the flashing city and all it’s amenities.
Elvis mentions different types of blackjack, roulette, and poker in this hit rock song. The song shares a title with a movie starring Elvis Presley that tells the tale of a Las Vegas love story.
The Gambler by Kenny Rogers (1970s)
“The Gambler” is just one of 24 songs that went No. 1 in Kenny Roger’s career. The iconic lyrics from this song is the catchy hook about knowing when to surrender and not to count your money at the table.
“You’ve 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 sitting at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.”
Blackjack by Amine (2018)
Amine released a song in 2018 titled “Blackjack”, which mostly centers around the artists’ wealth and fame at the time of the release. He doesn’t cover any real money blackjack experience, but the Portland rapper flips the term on it’s head and references actor, comedian, and musician Jack Black.
The song is different from previous blackjack songs because Amine doesn’t have any gambling-specific lyrics, but the song title is that of the classic casino card game. He utilizes the title to reference Jack Black’s movie School of Rock, which he redefines as the School of Rap in his music video.