"Persona 5's 'Last Surprise' Earns Grammy Nod, Elevating Game Music"

The 8-Bit Big Band's electrifying jazz rendition of Persona 5's iconic "Last Surprise" has received a Grammy nomination! This article delves into this significant achievement for the talented musicians involved.

Persona 5's "Last Surprise" Earns Grammy Recognition for 8-Bit Big Band's Jazz Interpretation

A Second Grammy Nomination for The 8-Bit Big Band

The 8-Bit Big Band's innovative jazz arrangement of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," is nominated for a Grammy Award! Featuring Grammy-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and the powerful vocals of Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops), this unique interpretation is competing in the "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" category at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

"Nominated for my 4th Grammy in a row!!!" exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on Twitter (X). "LONG LIVE VIDEO GAME MUSIC!!!" While Rosen's statement highlights his personal theatrical achievements, this isn't the band's first Grammy experience; they previously won a Grammy in 2022 for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge." This "Last Surprise" nomination marks their second.

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

Persona 5's acclaimed acid jazz soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, features many memorable tracks. However, "Last Surprise," the battle theme accompanying players through countless Palace encounters, stands out as a fan favorite. Its infectious bassline and catchy melodies have solidified its iconic status.

The 8-Bit Big Band's Grammy-nominated cover honors the original while adding a distinctive flair. The arrangement transforms the track into a captivating jazz fusion piece, showcasing the expertise of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. As the music video description explains, they even enlisted Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity, reflecting Dirty Loops' signature sound.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Unveiled

The Grammy Awards announced the 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 makes Grammy history with his annual nomination since the category's inception.

The award, which debuted with Stephanie Economou's win for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, saw Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab win last year for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Video game music holds a special place in the hearts of many. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the enduring power of these compositions, inspiring new interpretations that reach broader audiences.