Persona 5’s “Last Surprise” Grammy Nomination Brings Game Music to the Mainstream

The 8-Bit Big Band's jazz arrangement of Persona 5's iconic "Last Surprise" has received a Grammy nomination! This exciting development highlights the growing recognition of video game music within the broader music industry. Let's delve into the details of this well-deserved accolade.

A Second Grammy Nod for The 8-Bit Big Band

The 8-Bit Big Band's vibrant jazz interpretation of "Last Surprise" is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This nomination features the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops) on vocals. Bandleader Charlie Rosen expressed his excitement on Twitter (X), celebrating his fourth consecutive Grammy nomination and the continued success of video game music. This marks the band's second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge."

The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend in the same category at the February 2nd, 2025 ceremony.

The original "Last Surprise," composed by Shoji Meguro, is a beloved track from Persona 5, known for its infectious energy and memorable melodies. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover cleverly retains the song's essence while adding a unique jazz fusion flair, drawing inspiration from the signature sound of Dirty Loops. The inclusion of Button Masher further enhances the arrangement's harmonic complexity.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score

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 (Pinar Toprak)
• God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla (Bear McCreary)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (John Paesano)
• Star Wars Outlaws (Wilbert Roget, II)
• Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Winifred Phillips)

Bear McCreary continues to make Grammy history with his nomination, marking his presence in this category every year since its inception.

The growing recognition of video game music at the Grammys underscores its artistic merit and cultural impact. The 8-Bit Big Band's nomination, along with the other nominees in the "Best Score Soundtrack" category, showcases the increasing mainstream appreciation for the genre and its ability to inspire creative reinterpretations that resonate with a wider audience.