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 Grammy Nod for 8-Bit Big Band's Jazz Interpretation

A Second Grammy Nomination for The 8-Bit Big Band

The 8-Bit Big Band's electrifying jazz rendition of Persona 5's "Last Surprise" is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The track features Grammy-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and vocals by Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops).

"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!!!" This marks their second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover.

The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend. 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," a fan favorite battle theme, has resonated deeply with players due to its memorable presence throughout the game's Palaces.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover beautifully honors the original while adding its signature jazz fusion flair, heavily influenced by the sound of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. The inclusion of Button Masher further enhanced the harmonic complexity.

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 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 impressive streak, 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, highlights the enduring power and creative potential of these compositions, showcasing how classic game scores can inspire fresh interpretations and reach broader audiences.