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. This marks the band's second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge." Bandleader Charlie Rosen expressed his excitement on Twitter (X), celebrating this continued success.

The "Last Surprise" cover will compete against other notable artists, including Willow Smith and John Legend, at the Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2nd, 2025.

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 masterfully blends the original's essence with a unique jazz fusion style, courtesy of the band Dirty Loops' influence, further enhanced by Button Masher's harmonic contributions.

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 achieves a remarkable feat, securing a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The Grammy nominations for both "Last Surprise" and the Best Video Game Score category underscore the growing appreciation for video game music. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover serves as a powerful example of how classic game soundtracks can inspire fresh interpretations and reach wider audiences.