Persona 5's 'Last Surprise' Earns Grammy Nod

The 8-Bit Big Band's jazz arrangement of Persona 5's iconic "Last Surprise" has received a Grammy nomination! This exciting news highlights the growing recognition of video game music within the broader music industry. Learn more about this achievement and its significance for game music.

Persona 5's "Last Surprise" Earns 8-Bit Big Band a Grammy Nomination

A Second Grammy Nod for The 8-Bit Big Band

The 8-Bit Big Band's innovative jazz interpretation of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The performance features the talents of Grammy winner Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synthesizers and vocalist Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops).

"Another Grammy nomination! Four in a row!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on X (formerly Twitter). "Video game music is thriving!" This nomination marks their second Grammy nod, following their 2022 win for their "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover.

This year's "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" category features impressive competition, including entries from Willow Smith and John Legend. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony takes place February 2nd.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully honors the original while adding a fresh perspective. The arrangement seamlessly blends the original's energy with a jazz fusion approach, showcasing the unique style of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. As noted in the music video description, the band even collaborated with Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Unveiled

The Grammy Awards also announced nominees for "Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media." This year's contenders include:

⚫︎ Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, composed by Pinar Toprak
⚫︎ God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, composed by Bear McCreary
⚫︎ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, composed by John Paesano
⚫︎ Star Wars Outlaws, composed by Wilbert Roget, II
⚫︎ Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, composed by Winifred Phillips

Bear McCreary continues to make Grammy history, achieving a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The award, first presented in 2022, recognizes the artistry and impact of video game soundtracks.

The enduring appeal of video game music is undeniable. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the lasting power of these compositions, inspiring fresh interpretations and introducing them to wider audiences.