"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga

"Poker Face" is an electropop song by American dance-pop singer-songwriter Lady Gaga from her debut album, The Fame. Produced by RedOne, it was released as the album's second single in late 2008 in some markets and early 2009 in the rest of the world. The song is an uptempo dance song following the foot-steps of her previous single "Just Dance" but has a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is Gaga's personal experience with bisexuality while lyrically it is about sex and gambling and dedicated by Gaga to her friends who gamble.

"Poker Face" has been well-received by the critics with most of them appreciating the robotic hook and the chorus. The song has attained worldwide success, topping the charts in more than seventeen countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many European countries. The music video portrays Gaga singing the song in various costumes and playing strip poker in a mansion. The song has been performed on a number of live appearances by Gaga including the eighth season of American Idol and her first headlining Fame Ball tour where alternate variations of the track has been performed, including a piano version which she played while wearing a dress made of bubbles, and an electronic version.

"Poker Face" is written by RedOne and Gaga while the music has been produced by RedOne. Gaga stated in an interview that "Poker Face" was written by her as a pop song and was a tribute to her rock 'n roll boyfriends. She also stated that the main idea behind the song was sex and gambling.[3] In an interview with UK's Daily Star, Gaga noted of the song, "It's about a lot of different things. I gamble but I’ve also dated a lot of guys who are really into sex and booze and gambling, so I wanted to write a record my boyfriends would like too."

During her Fame Ball tour performance at Palm Springs on Saturday 11th of April, Gaga explained to the crowd the true meaning behind the term "Poker Face" used in the song. She suggested that the song dealt about her personal experience with bisexuality. The idea behind the song was to be with a man but fantasizing about a woman, hence the man in the song needs to read her "Poker Face" to understand what is going through her mind.

"Poker Face" is an uptempo dance-pop song, and follows the footsteps of the previous single "Just Dance". Whereas "Just Dance" was predominately electropop, "Poker Face" carries a dark sound with clear vocals on the chorus and a pop hook while combining the synths from "Just Dance" and the more dance oriented beat of next single "LoveGame". The composition also carries the pleather-and-sequins vibe of the downtown underground New York scene. The song is set in Common time with a moderate tempo of 120 beats per minute. The song is written in the key of A minor. The song begins with a medium tempo followed by electronic chord arrangement and the "Mum-mum-mum-maa" hook. The chords follow in this order, Am---E---G♭---Am---E-G♭. This is followed by the sound of dance music, produced by a powerful beat from the instruments and a stuttering hook following the chorus. Gaga's vocal range spans from G3 to C5, and has the similar dance-pop tempo in it.

Lyrically, "Poker Face" is all about sexual innuendo and teasing. The chorus repeats two alternating lyrics. After the hook "Can't read my Poker Face" the backup singer (Space Cowboy) says "She's got me like nobody". Gaga explained in an interview with Daily Star that the line carries a bit of an undertone of confusion about love and sex. According to the BBC, the "Mum-mum-mum-mah" hook used in the song is sampled from Boney M's 1977 hit "Ma Baker."

Here is the full lyrics:

Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah

I wanna hold em' like they do in Texas Plays
Fold em' let em' hit me raise it baby stay with me (I love it)
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me (I love it)
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun, fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I won't tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin
I'm not lying I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning
Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand cause I'm marvelous

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
[End of lyrics]

In the U.S., the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at ninety-two and reached number six for the issue dated March 7, 2009. The next week the song climbed another three places to reach a peak of three for the issue dated March 14, 2009 where it stayed for two additional weeks. However, on the issue dated April 4, 2009, the song reached a new peak of two being the weeks greatest airplay gainer and topped the chart the following week. "Poker Face" became Gaga's second consecutive number one on the Hot 100, marking the first time an artist has had their first two charting singles hit number one on the Hot 100 since Christina Aguilera did so with "Genie In a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants" in 1999-2000.[24] The song debuted on the Pop 100 at number sixty-one and ultimately topped the chart. The song also peaked on both the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Club Play charts. "Poker Face" became the first single since Madonna's 2006 single "Sorry", to top all the three Dance charts in a single week including the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

"Poker Face" entered the Australian ARIA Charts at number twenty-six on the issue date of October 10, 2008 and in its seventh week peaked at number one, replacing "Sex on Fire" by the Kings of Leon. The single decented from the peak spot in its eleventh week by Wes Carr's single "You" but again hit the top spot the following week. "Poker Face" has sold over 210,000 copies in Australia, earning three-times platinum certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

In Canada, the song debuted at number forty-one on the Canadian Hot 100 for the issue of September 6, 2008. On the chart dated December 13, 2008, "Poker Face" ascended to number one and then spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top. In New Zealand, "Poker Face" debuted at number twenty-one on October 6, 2008. In its sixth week, it topped the chart spending ten consecutive weeks at number one and was replaced by Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours". "Poker Face" was certified two times platinum after twenty-seven weeks on the chart, selling over 30,000 copies according to the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.

"Poker Face" debuted at number thirty on the UK Singles Chart from downloads alone on January 18, 2009, the first week Gaga's album was released. On the issue dated March 22, 2009, "Poker Face" climbed to number one replacing the Comic Relief single, "Islands in the Stream" by Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon, thus giving Gaga her second consecutive UK number one single. On the issue dated April 12, 2009, after spending three consecutive weeks at the charts summit, "Poker Face" was knocked off the top spot by "I'm Not Alone" by Calvin Harris, with "Poker Face" falling to number two. In Italy the song debuted at number ninetenn and climbed to nine which has been its peak as of now. The song has also reached the peak in a number of European countries including Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The single also peaked on the Billboard Eurochart Hot 100 singles chart for the issue dated March 7, 2009.

αCharts.us says that. "The song Poker Face by Lady Gaga has been listed for 356 weeks in 21 different charts. Its first appearance was week 36/2008 in the Canada Singles Top 100 and the last appearance was week 17/2009 in the Australia Singles Top 50, Bulgaria Singles Top 40, Canada Singles Top 100, Finland Singles Top 20, Germany Singles Top 100, New Zealand Top 40, Norway Singles Top 20, Swiss Singles Top 100, UK Singles Top 75, US Singles Top 100, World Singles Top 40 and Portugal Singles Top 50. Its peak position was number 1, on the Australia Singles Top 50, Austria Singles Top 75, Belgium Singles Top 50, Bulgaria Singles Top 40, Canada Singles Top 100, Denmark Singles Top 40, Dutch Top 40, Finland Singles Top 20, France Singles Top 100, Germany Singles Top 100, Ireland Singles Top 50, New Zealand Top 40, Norway Singles Top 20, Sweden Singles Top 60, Swiss Singles Top 100, UK Singles Top 75, US Airplay Top 100, US Singles Top 100 and World Singles Top 40, it stayed there for 100 weeks. Its highest entry was number 2 in the France Singles Top 100 and Germany Singles Top 100. Below you'll find the exact numbers and statistics."

Check the listing of song in different charts here.

The music video for "Poker Face" was directed by Ray Kay and was aided by Anthony Mandler. Premiering on October 22, 2008, The video is set by a pool, as well as in a mansion. The video begins with Lady Gaga emerging out of the pool wearing a shiny masquerade mask and a black full body leotard, with two Great Danes beside her. She throws the mask aside and the song begins with a facial shot of Gaga singing it. Gaga wears a metallic sticker on her left cheek in this shot. Featured in the video are scenes of Gaga in a mansion and dancing poolside with her dancers in a turquoise leotard. Gaga attends a wild party where every man and woman tries their luck on a stripped poker game. The party gets wilder when all the party's guests strip down to their underwear, dance around, and share kisses with each other. The video also features two harlequin Great Danes and several white mannequins on her swimming pool deck who are supposedly playing her servants. During the musical interlude before the "I won't tell you that I love you" hook, Gaga is shown in her trademark "Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow" sunglasses while sitting beside the pool. The video ends with the head shot of Gaga singing the Mum-mum-mum-ma hook.

Gaga explained in the nineteenth episode of her "Transmision Gagavision" series, the main idea behind the music video of "Poker Face". She said that "I knew I wanted it to be sexy, so I thought no pants, because that's sexy, [...]And I knew I wanted it to be futuristic, so I thought shoulder pads, because that's my thing." The music video premiered on MTV UK on February 17, 2009. In some versions of the song, the words "muffin" (being a slang term for the woman's vagina), "Russian Roulette," and "gun" are censored out (bleeped) by the mum-mum-mum-ma hook.