Music on Playing Cards
Music has played an important cultural and social function since prehistoric times. It helps form tribal bonds and enhances religious and spiritual practices. All kinds of music are depicted on playing cards and card games, from opera to popular music, ancient and contemporary.
Rapalje
Promotional pack for a Dutch Celtic folk band which performs Irish, Scottish and Dutch folk music, c.2004.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
This illustration project by Gurleen Kaur features images inspired by the band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Each card had illustrations from their albums and the ace, jack, queen and king are each band members.
Requiem Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
This pack has been inspired by the Requiem Mass, a Mass celebrated for the souls of one or more deceased persons. The dark style of illustrations features occult symbols and imagery such as horns, hearts, thorns and skulls and the typography reflects ancient latin scripts.
Rodrigo El Potro
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by Simon Wintle
Naipes El Potro Rodrigo with Spanish suit symbols and photos of the pop singer on each card, c.2000.
Russian Opera Scenes
Russian Opera & Theatre Scenes playing cards first published by the Colour Printing Plant (USSR, Russian Federation) in 1974
Smash Hits playing cards
Pack of playing cards with pop stars offered free with the Smash Hits magazine.
Sony Tape Rock ‘N’ Pop Playing Cards
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by Matt Probert
Deck featuring “18 Rock ‘n’ Pop” Superstars portrayed on the court cards and jokers by eight of Britain’s leading illustrators.
Stars of Country Music
Stars of Country Music playing cards with non-standard suit symbols, USA, 1995
That’s Entertainment
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by Ian Taylor
A deck of 55 cards celebrating 20th Century vaudeville, musicals and cabaret.
The Beatles • Yellow Submarine
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by Ian Taylor
A colourful deck celebrating the 1968 animated feature film based on the Lennon/McCartney song of the same name.
The Beatles playing cards
Two packs featuring photos of The Beatles issued by the same publisher in 2004 and 2005.
The Beggars’ Opera
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by Simon Wintle
The Beggars’ Opera Playing Cards were first published in 1728. The cards carry the words and music of the songs from Gay’s opera, which was intended as a parody of current Italian works. The music was taken from many popular tunes of the day.
The Chamber of 52 Cards
Playing cards published by Peter Wood as a tribute to the rock band Genesis.
Truco “Únicos”
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by Simon Wintle
Naipes Truco “Únicos” with caricatures of national celebrities designed by Gerardo N. Perez, 2006.