Po-po-po-poker face po-po-poker face.

Who doesn’t know this line? Put down your hand, liar. Everybody knows Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’. It’s number one in the US. It’s number one in Europe. It’s number one in Australia. It’s number one in Tajikistan. Face it, it’s probably number one in your head too.

But as big as the song was, it’s not the original Poker Face (sound effects: Millions of women gasping). Japanese artist Ayumi Hamasaki recorded a track of the same name more than a decade ago. With the song Poker Face, Ayumi reached hitmaker status. It sold almost 12,000 units, so the song was definitely a success. But does it hold a candle to Gaga’s version?

LADY GAGA VERSION (lyrics)

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)
Lovegame 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)

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 its not rough it isn't fun, fun

(REPEAT CHORUS)

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


AYUMI HAMASAKI VERSION (lyrics)

It's always easy to cry, but I want to smile.
I want your love.

My true form begins to dim little by little.
From inside the surging crowd I push aside, as long as I can't get answers I've been searching.
The better I become at telling lies and excuses, the more I feel afraid in the emptiness.

It's always easy to cry, but I want to smile.
If I become stronger I'll forget even your kindness,
so I want to stay weak.
I want your love.

People are always solitary beings.
So I need someone. I want to be suported and I want to be supporting.
So I need someone to support me

If an important thing is found let's protect it to the end.
If I hit a wall that's too high and get hurt, I should stand up again.
I don't wish for anything else, just that one is enough.
I want your love.