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Poker Face

by

Lady GaGa



Album: The Fame      Released: 2008
US Chart: 1     UK Chart: 1

Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Lady GaGa told Fashionista101 that this tune is about the singer playing with guys as if she was a poker player. She explained: "The song speaks in reference to the poker game, 'Texas Hold Em.' So I said, 'I wanna hold him like they do in Texas, please.' So its basically saying like, I wanna hold that guy — I wanna be close to him."

The "Mum-mum-mum-ma" hook is sampled from Boney M's 1977 hit "Ma Baker."

This climbed into the Top 10 of the Hot 100, whilst Lady GaGa's debut single, "Just Dance," was positioned at #5. She thus became the first solo female lead artist to have her first two chart entries appear in the top 10 simultaneously, since Ciara achieved the same feat with "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step" in December 2004.

This reached #1 in many countries, including the singles charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Lady GaGa wrote this with her producer, RedOne. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

When this song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady GaGa became the first artist to top the chart with his or her first two entries since 1999-2000, when Christina Aguilera achieved the same feat with "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants."

NBC's Access Hollywood reported that during a birthday concert at Palm Springs Convention Center, where the audience was mainly made up of gay men, Lady GaGa opened up about the meaning behind this song. To an enthusiastic crowd reaction, she suggested that it is about her personal experience with bisexuality, adding that the song is about being with a man but fantasizing about a woman; hence, the man must read her "Poker Face" to understand what is going through her mind.

This was sampled by rapper Kid Cudi on his single "I Make Her Say." Cudi's mentor, Kanye West, told MTV News that he was inspired to incorporate elements of this song, when he learnt of its true meaning. He explained: "All the backstory to the song is really controversial. When I found out that her actual song is about her making love to her boyfriend but really thinking about her girlfriend, I was like, 'Oh, that's crazy.'"

This song reigned for 16 non-consecutive weeks on top of the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart. It was the longest-running pan-European # 1 single since Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" completed 16 consecutive weeks at the summit in January 2002.

In a one-off chart covering the first five years of the UK Official Downloads Chart, which started on June 26, 2004, this song came out on top with 779,000 sales. In second place was the King of Leon's "Sex On Fire" and in third another Lady GaGa song, "Just Dance." The singer thanked her fans for putting her track at the summit of the chart. "I love my fans eternally, and will continue to live, breathe, bleed, and love music and fashion for them," she said.

Lady Gaga performed this on season 8 of American Idol with a version which she played the first verse and chorus singing and playing the piano. (thanks, Mitchell - Brownstown, IN)

More songs by Lady GaGa
More songs that use samples
Listen to "Poker Face" like you've never heard it before. »Get it Free.

Comments:

Kenzie: That is exactly what I came on this site to find out! I've always heard "P-p-p-poker face p-p-f**k her face." There is without a doubt an "uck" sound on that second iteration. I was hoping someone could confirm it. And it kinda makes me think the song may be more about Lady Gaga's passion for fellatio.
- Richard, Stoney Creek, ON

girls playing games about romance? What's new about that?
- Cyberpope, Richmond, Canada

You know this song is overplayed if Cartman sings it
- Juan, La Mirada, CA

Question: In the chorus where she is supposedley sayin P-P-P-Poker Face, does anyone else hear her saying F-F-F-F*** her face? Listen to it. That's what I hear. Just curious if anyone else does. ; )
- Kenzie, Athens, GA

I've never heard this song, and I have no idea who this chick is. What the F is wrong with young people?
- Jeff, Austin, TX

I love this song, I think Lady Gaga is the most exciting artist to come out in a long time, she writes her own music & lyrics, she has a great voice and she is different.
- Scott, Perth, Western Australia, -

I really wish people weren't so hard on pop music. Even if she was talentless, which shes not, by the way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwdXnlvUe3I) feel good music does just that, makes you feel good. I'm not saying she's on the same level as dylan or jefferson airplane, I'm just saying that sometimes we want something to dance to : )
- Bridget, New York, NY

lady gaga's career is completely based off of shock and autotune. she has 0 talent.
- Michael, Morris County, NJ

i hate this song!!! her music uses more computers than Microsoft.
- nick, vassar, MI

People giving a negative opinion is not trashing: it's an OPINION. As an artist (snicker, snicker) she has to; and should be; prepared to accept ALL critiques, good or bad. When you put yourself out there, you have to know that not everyone's going to like what you do. That having been said....this song SUCKS.
- Mike, Matawan, NJ

This song is the quintessential of the girl playa mentality! Its so true...NEVER SHOW YOUR HAND in the early stages of dating a guy. Always show them that you dont CARE so much..meanwhile you do! You will always coming winning in the long run! Way to go Lady GaGA!
- Tricia, Rockville Centre, NY

YO BECKY! if you don't like it don't listen to it! and if you never have don't knock it till you try it!
- stephanie, Eva, AL

please, people, don't use this site to trash others. this is supposed to be about the music! this song has it's own style, which is techno and pop and it's different from some types of music but that doesn't make it bad. it's catchy, it has a beat and a theme and, say what you will, lady gaga has a nice voice, even when you hear it unproduced.
- Frankie, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Ummm why does anyone listen to tasteless, talentless pop acts like lady gaga? can anyone realize her voice is made out of corporate technology? why waste your time? seriously. there are way better things to listen to. Lady gaga is disgusting and is a dirty whore. sp
- Becky, portland, OR

I'm waiting for the day people will start to realize Lady Gaga is a waste of time, and will fade out like all the other crappy pop singers.
- Shelby, Staunton, VA

Good point Nick & Ricky. Unfortunately dumbass pop acts like that sell out much more than pink floyd can ever imagine right now. I for one am a huge fan of pink floyd and dream theater, porcupine tree, 'tallica, maiden, opeth, but once in a while a whole lotta stupid dumbass fun wont hurt anyone right? if the music's fun its fun!
- Paul, Ann Arbor, MI

Hey Ricky from Australia! Pink Floyd isnt making music anymore, so when you get tired of listening to "The Wall"... turn on the radio or pop "The Fame" into your cd player, take the stick out of your ass and enjoy the music!
- Violet, indianapolis, IN

Agreed ricky. I for one would rather listen to pink floyd, led zeppelin, the eagles, Bon Jovi, Credence Clearwater Revival ,Metallica ,ac/dc, Queen, Van Halen for the good old 70's and 80's rock. But for this generation I'd also listen to foo fighters, alice in chains, Dream Theater (Bit of prog rock every now and then), silverchair, seether, Black Label Society, green day and heaps more.
- Nick, Cairns, Australia

This song is shamzzing.
- jennette, garden grove, CA

lady gaga is a great example of the declining standards of pop music. it saddens me that she can make money out of this filth. and someone said that it is clever comparing playing with men to poker... anyone who thinks that this music is clever in anyway should never listen to something like pink floyd because their miniscule brains will explode from the sheer creativity and intelligence of it.
- ricky, melbourne, Australia

The first time I heard this song I kinda had to take a second or two to let it sink in. Disco is dead, BUT this girl is the sht!!!!!
- Lawrence, Erie, PA

I love this song, Lady Gaga is no joke.
- Theresa, Murfreesboro, TN

Lady Gaga told MTV that this song is about fantasizing about women while having sex with her boyfriend.
- Deedee, Brooklyn, MD

honey, we are not talking about stevie ray. oh, screw it, I can't beat ignorance
- Matt, Houston, TX

some of you guys dont know music when you hear it!=(. this song is OFF DA CHAIN! i LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! i can listen to it everyday and i do. its the best!
- Dylan, Miami, FL

I got my first speeding ticket to this song! I love the beats! This song is better than 10 red bulls!!! If I'm tired and this song comes on, I all of a sudden have so much energy. I love everything about this song. The metaphors, the beats, the fact that she doesn't sound like a chipmunk.
- Malaya, Chicago, IL

ok to Blake, music is a sound. Stevie Ray Vaughn had a unique sound and that's what helped him become the legend he is today, but everyone plays with different sounds and thats why we have the music we have today. If ppl didn't mess around with the different tunes, we'd be stuck in a stone age music-wise. Who knows maybe the longer we play with this techno sound we could combine stevie and lady gaga to create a new sound! This is a good song though.
- Mercedies, Soldotna, AK

ok ok just one thing...what ever happened to music? I mean whats with this techno crap? everybody is doing it and it just doen't make much sence to me...what happened to the days when you put your heart and soul into it? what happened to the blues man? this is crap all of you people need to be introduced to my man Stevie Ray Vaughn now that guy knew how to jam!
- blake, tahlequah, OK

Ok to Tyfa thank god there is someone out there who is sick of this song...maybe I should just move to the U.K. seriously U.S's taste in music has hit rock bottom...Cool name by the way.
- blake, tahlequah, OK

" I wanna hold the guy-so it's like texas hold em'" that is... not really creative. where did the damn times go. Pop reins over the hearts and souls of corporate america's minor division. wait til' katy perry releases her sophmoric album. hell will freeze over,and earth will boil into a golden brown hash of what used to be the shadow of doubt we all saw coming when video killed the radio star back in 81'. well no one could predict it but... too bad no one's here to see my what the hell face.
- Matt, Houston, TX

What a lovely little song >.> First listen, well maybe it could be decent, something electronic, poppy, enticing, but then it gets too much airplay. GaGa seems to be shadowing Katy Perry in her interview with the BBC, saying this is hinting at bisexuality.... what can you do but roll your eyes?
- Tucker, Jackson Heights, NY

This song sucks so hard, its not creative or anymore thoughtful then every other pop song from today. Music is just not the same anymore.
- Zep, Cape May, NJ

To Kayla Upson : there is a goddess that is a beautiful amazing girl that lives across the street from myself, and i just want to tell her that she is amazing and any guy that would have the chance to date her, lucky guy. so to you Kayla, i think u are amazing, a hard worker, and a fun person to be around. -Always, Joey
- Joey, Wellington, FL

TO TYFA: I KNOW!!! EVERY TIME I tune into this one radio station it's played. I mean SERIOUSLY-Lady GaGa needs to write a new song. (By the way, I didn't know poker face was playing in the UK.)
- Emily, Around Chicago, IL

i'm so sick of this song...at first i was, yeah i could get into this...but when it's played every 5 minutes, it starts to get annoying...now i can't listen to the song without wishing death upon whoever is playing it
- tyfa, north, United Kingdom

great song to dance to...if you know how to dance. lol
- Emily, Around Chicago, IL

I find the line "stunnin with my love glue gun" really freakin funny..... well, cuz if you wanna get technical...it kinda is...lol
- Violet, indianapolis, IN

I love this song :) Its clever that shes comparing playing with guys like playing Poker. Inventive, yes?
- Toni Parasite, Newcastle, United Kingdom

OHHHHH... Dirty... I like it.
- Kristel, Catlett, VA

Like it...good stuff to work out to.
- Beck, Columbus, OH

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