Celebrity Poker Player: Rihanna

Most have probably heard the tones of the track “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga over the years. And now there's maybe chance, or risk if you like, to airwaves are filled with several poker songs. The music video for Rihanna's newest popfænomenet number called “Hard”, the poker fans for quite able to recognize a special logo.

What about the middle of the music video where sexy poker player Rihanna gets a slap poker with two unidentified gentlemen. Repeatedly zooms in on the chips, where the wording PokerStars not to be mistaken. And also the cards as the game's three participants are using, is adorned by the large poker sites logo.

What the agreement has cost PokerStars is not known but it has hardly been cheap. Is “Hard” a great success, the site at least could look forward to massive exposure. For example, the music video for another of celebrity poker player Rihanna's tracks, Do not stop the music, been viewed more than 106 million times on YouTube.

About Rihanna: Robin Rihanna Fenty a.k.a Ri-Ri or Rihanna sudden and meteoric rise made American Idol hopefuls look like seasoned crooners who had spent a decade on the road before hitting the big time. A native of the island of Barbados, Rihanna lived an average life and barely even dreamed of show business before she was discovered in late 2003.

Despite her total lack of professional singing experience, Rihanna was snapped up by Def Jam, and had a hit with her single "Pon de Replay" in 2005. She quickly followed this up with the release of her debut album, Music of the Sun.

Rihanna wasted no time in putting out a second album, A Girl Like Me, the following year, and her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, took listeners by storm in 2007 with a slew of hit singles including "Umbrella" and "Don't Stop The Music."

Rihanna's instant success wasn't all luck, though. Her talent is undeniable, and her personality is determined yet appreciative. She instantly caught the attention of the likes of Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z and Sean Paul, and in 2007, when she released her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, all signs indicated she would be a massive success. Her fourth studio album was released in November 2009, entitled Rated R, and it is Rihanna's highest.

The wave of popularity that stemmed from Rihanna's impressive debut carried her onto the small screen. She's been on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Today, and has performed at the 2005 Video Music Awards, World Music Awards and MTV Awards. 

 

She's also helped kick off sports events, from a performance alongside Kanye West at the start of the NFL season to a show for the start of the 2005 U.S. Lawn Tennis Open Championships.

In 2006, Rihanna released her second album, A Girl Like Me, which boasted the hit singles "SOS," "Unfaithful," "We Ride," and "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul. In 2007, it was another successful year for the budding talent. Rihanna released her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad.

A number of hits also resulted from this album including "Umbrella," which featured Jay-Z. This song was the longest running No. 1 single since Wet Wet Wet's' single "Love Is All Around" back in 1994, and the longest running No. 1 by a female artist since Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You."

Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad also included the hits "Shut Up And Drive" and "Don't Stop The Music." At the 2007 American Music Awards Rihanna won for Favorite Female Artist in the Soul/Rhythm &; Blues category.

Rihanna's skyrocketed career falls down when Rihanna was scheduled to perform at the 2009 Grammy Awards show, an incident of physical abuse from boyfriend Chris Brown kept the two from performing together on stage. 

 

Photos of battered Rihanna circulated the internet days after the incident, and Chris Brown released a statement to the public claiming he was finding the guidance he needed with friends and family, away from Rihanna.

After the courts agreed to a plea bargain with Chris Brown, Rihanna fans will be happy to know that part of the plea bargain requires Chris Brown to stay far away from Rihanna.

Celebrity Poker: Sacha Baron Cohen

Celebrities donned their poker faces at a celebrity poker tournament to raise funds for a notable organizations and foundations one of the Hollwood's A-list celebrity star is the funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen. As a former male model who stands at 6' 3", Sacha Baron Cohen likely attracted the occasional female eye before he found fame.

We call him a comedian because he makes us laugh, but celebrity poker  player Sacha Baron Cohen is not a comedian, any more than the alter-egos that have made him famous -- Ali G, Borat and Bruno. Now, he's married to Isla Fisher, the super hot redhead and a hilariously talented actress, and together they have a daughter. 

Aside from PR stunts to promote his films, Sacha Baron Cohen is rarely seen in public and has rarely given a straight interview. 

 

Sacha Baron Cohen's work has earned him nominations from several film and television organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He has received nominations for an Oscar, for Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Emmys, and many more, even winning one or two along the way. In addition to his own films, Cohen has voiced the role of Julien in the movie Madagascar in 2008 films and appeared alongside Will Ferrell in flicks like Talladega Nights in 20006. 

 

He has already made millions in his field and has established a bar for fearlessness in film that seems unbelievably high. The question remains, however, of whether or not he can escape the shadows cast by his alter egos and establish an acting career independent of them. 

Out of college, Sacha Baron Cohen decided to pursue a career doing what he truly loved but rarely did in an official capacity -- entertain. Specifically, do comedy. Perhaps his Orthodox upbringing, or his years as a diligent student, made him believe it wasn't the most noble of pursuits, so he set a five-year deadline for himself -- if it didn't work out in that time, he would find a job more suited to his education. His five years were almost up when Channel 4 gave him that all-important break. 

 

When Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show needed a host, Cohen auditioned -- rather, Ali G auditioned, in all his foul-mouthed arrogance. His persona landed the spot as host of the show's "Voice of Youth" segment. It didn't take long for the segment to catch fire, and shortly Ali G was given his own show, Da Ali G Show. Displaying his keen PR sense, before it debuted Cohen cranked up the buzz by releasing a video, Ali G, Innit. A best-seller, the video had fans in a frenzy for the debut. He stoked the fire by releasing two more videos, and in 2002, a full-length feature, Ali G Indahouse.

In 2007, Sacha Baron Cohen released Borat: Cultural Learnings from America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which pretended to follow the hapless Borat across the U.S. looking for the love of his life, Pamela Anderson. The film was a sensation, grossing $261 million over 14 times its cost, and earning Sacha Baron Cohen an Oscar and a host of legal problems.

Specifically, he was sued by an etiquette coach, a driving instructor, southern frat boys, some Romanian villagers, even a Manhattan businessman whose personal space Borat violated, causing the man to scamper away. All appeared in the movie after unwittingly falling for Borat's ruse, and none liked what they saw of themselves.

In late 2008, Sacha Baron Cohen publicly announced that he was killing off Borat and Ali G -- their enormous fame had subverted their effectiveness. By then, he'd finished filming the mockumentary Bruno, released in early July 2009. The film presents the same sucker scenarios that elevated Borat and uses the same underhanded scheme: feed on his prey's weaknesses and exploit them for effect. 

In one scene, Paula Abdul is lured to an interview with Bruno after having been informed that she'd been named Artist of the Year in Austria. It's hard, for us in the audience, to believe that someone like Abdul, who had done little to nothing artistically, could accept without question that she was deserving of the award. 

Yet as Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen's traps remain as simple as they are cunning, baiting his prey to drop their guard and to confuse the roles of predator and prey. The result is comedic genius from an otherwise unfunny and deadly serious artist.

Lady Gaga Invited At The APT

Glamorous pop star Lady Gaga is the latest celebrity to be given an official invitation to the Asian Poker Tour in Macau. As probably part of a move to increase the event's popularity, the APT has been trying to get Lady Gaga to perform at the poker festival.

Last week the organizers also invited Michael Phelps to participate and they will pick up the tabs for both of them if they are to attend.

The electro-pop, Queen-inspired artist would be in Macau for a concert on August 15 – the APT began yesterday and runs until the 23rd, making the timing right.

Lady Gaga’s song “Poker Face” topped the UK charts earlier this year and sold millions worldwide – since then she has had success with other singles such as Paparazzi.

From Pokerati:

Dear Lady Gaga,

“I wanna hold them like they do in texas please, fold’em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me.” We certainly hope so and cannot believe the coincidence that you are playing live in Macau on Saturday 15th August while the Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival is in full swing at the Galaxy Starworld.

Your ‘Fame Ball’ Tour has been a huge hit and we are sure the plaudits in Macau will be the same as in Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul and Manila but imagine the reaction if you showed your poker face at the Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival!

Not only will the venue be full of the world’s best poker players, the tournament is also the backdrop to the first ever Chinese language poker movie ‘Poker King,’ which people would go ‘gaga’ for if you took on a cameo role. Forget the wigs, keep the bleached blonde hair and think about the exposure to a huge audience!

You are well known for your dazzling array of outfits and admired for your mix of music and independent attitude. You have gone acoustic and proved you have real talent but the bottom line is nobody has actually seen your poker face! We see you with cards and the glamour in the ‘Poker Face’ video but in fairness we don’t know if you can hold’em.

We undoubtedly are trying to spread the word about poker in Asia, and, despite what some poker purists might argue, you have brought the great game to the attention to millions of new people through your worldwide best selling hit. You have a new tattoo that is the big news at the moment but we finally see your poker face… now that is different, that is serious news! ‘Poker Face’ is not about poker and you cannot play cards? Don’t worry, we have got plenty of people that could teach you!

You are in Macau while the premier poker event in the region is on! The festival runs from the 12th - 23rd with the Main Event getting underway on the 20th. We have a special Celebrity event featuring Hong Kong and Chinese language stars on Tuesday the 18th which you would be more than welcome to attend.


We have also openly invited Michael Phelps to come along and are waiting to hear back but in fairness you are in the same city while the event is on so come on, all expenses are on us, just dance!

Congratulations on your nine MTV Video Award nominations but do us and the world a favour, come and see us in Macau and show us your poker face! We would be honored.

Best wishes,

The Asian Poker Tour

The Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival will run from August 12-23, 2009 at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino in Macau. The Main Event in 2008 was won by 20-year-old US hotshot Yevgeniy Timoshenko, who scooped US$500,000 after emerging triumphant from the star-studded field that featured players from over 40 countries.

The Asian Poker Tour Macau hosts over 20 events with 15 official side events - the first four taking place between the 12th - 16th August featuring guaranteed prize pools. Day 1A of the Main Event kicks off on the 20th August. Full details can be found at http://www.asianpt.com/.

Lady Gaga happens to be on the Chinese island on August 15th for a concert at The Venetian Macau.

If she agrees to attend the event will probably contribute to the poker boom in Asia as she is very popular in the continent.

Photo credit: Maxim.com
Invitation: Pokerati.com