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 significant achievement highlights the growing recognition of video game music within the broader music industry. Let's delve into the details of this exciting news.

8-Bit Big Band's Second Grammy Nomination

The 8-Bit Big Band's vibrant jazz interpretation of "Last Surprise," featuring Grammy-winning synth player Jake Silverman (Button Masher) and vocalist Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops), is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This marks their 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 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend in the same category. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony takes place on February 2nd.

Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," however, stands out as a fan favorite, its energetic rhythm and memorable melodies resonating deeply with players. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully honors the original while adding its unique jazz fusion flair, a characteristic of Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. The inclusion of Button Masher further enhances the 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 his remarkable streak, receiving a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The increasing recognition of video game music at the Grammys underscores its artistic merit and cultural impact. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the enduring power of these compositions to inspire new interpretations and reach wider audiences.