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

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

The 8-Bit Big Band's innovative jazz arrangement of Persona 5's iconic battle theme, "Last Surprise," has received a Grammy nomination! This exciting development highlights the growing recognition of video game music within the broader music industry.

The talented ensemble, 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."

"Just nominated for my 4th Grammy IN A ROW!!!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on X (formerly Twitter). "LONG LIVE VIDEO GAME MUSIC!!!"

Their "Last Surprise" cover will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony takes place on February 2nd.

Persona 5's acclaimed acid jazz soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, features many memorable tracks. However, "Last Surprise" stands out as a fan favorite, its energetic rhythm and memorable melodies deeply ingrained in the memories of countless players who battled through the game's Palaces.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully blends respect for the original with a unique jazz fusion twist, showcasing the distinctive style of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. The group even enlisted Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity, mirroring the signature sound of Dirty Loops.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Unveiled

The Grammy Awards also announced 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 continues to make Grammy history, receiving a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The enduring popularity of video game music is undeniable. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the lasting impact of these compositions, inspiring fresh interpretations and introducing them to wider audiences.