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, a significant milestone for video game music! This article explores this achievement and its implications for the genre.

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 electrifying jazz rendition of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," is nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" category at the 2025 ceremony. The performance features the talents of Grammy winner 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 "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover.

Bandleader Charlie Rosen expressed his excitement on Twitter (X), celebrating this latest accomplishment and the growing recognition of video game music.

This impressive cover will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend for the prestigious award, announced for February 2nd, 2025.

Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its distinctive acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," in particular, holds a special place in fans' hearts, accompanying countless battles within the game's Palaces. Its infectious energy and memorable melodies have solidified its status as a classic.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover skillfully honors the original while injecting a fresh, vibrant energy. The jazz fusion arrangement, a hallmark of Dirty Loops' style, elevates the track, further enhanced by Button Masher's contributions.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Revealed

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

⚫︎ 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, earning a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The growing recognition of video game music, exemplified by The 8-Bit Big Band's success, showcases the enduring power and artistic merit of these compositions, proving their ability to inspire new interpretations and captivate wider audiences.