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 mainstream music industry. Let's delve into the details of this well-deserved achievement.
Persona 5's "Last Surprise" Earns Grammy Nod for 8-Bit Big Band's Jazz Interpretation
8-Bit Big Band Secures Second Grammy Nomination with Persona 5 Battle Theme Cover
The 8-Bit Big Band's masterful jazz rendition of Persona 5's "Last Surprise" is nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" category at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The track features the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and the powerful vocals of Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops).
"Another Grammy nomination! My fourth in a row!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on Twitter (X). "Video game music is alive and thriving!" This marks the band's second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge."
The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend for the prestigious award. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 2nd.
Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its distinctive acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," however, stands out as a particular fan favorite, its energetic melody and memorable riffs having become synonymous with the game's challenging dungeon battles (Palaces).The 8-Bit Big Band's cover pays tribute to the original while injecting its own unique flair. The arrangement cleverly transforms the track into a captivating jazz fusion piece, showcasing the distinctive style of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. As noted in the music video description, the collaboration with Button Masher further enhanced the harmonic complexity, aligning with Dirty Loops' signature sound.
2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Unveiled
The Grammy Awards have 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 continues to make Grammy history with his nomination, marking his inclusion in this category every year since its inception.
The award, first presented to Stephanie Economou for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, last year went to Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
The enduring popularity of video game soundtracks is undeniable. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the lasting impact of these compositions and their potential to inspire fresh interpretations that resonate with a wider audience.
