Grammy Nod Propels P5's "Last Surprise" to Mainstream

The 8-Bit Big Band's jazz arrangement of Persona 5's iconic "Last Surprise" has received a Grammy nomination, highlighting the growing recognition of video game music in the mainstream. This article delves into this exciting achievement for the talented musicians involved.

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 masterful jazz rendition of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," has secured a Grammy nomination! Featuring the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synthesizers and Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops) on vocals, this unique interpretation is vying for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

"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 well!" This isn't the band's first Grammy win; they previously received the award for "Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella" in 2022 for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge."

The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists including Willow Smith and John Legend in the same category 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 game's battle theme, holds a special place in fans' hearts due to its association with countless hours spent battling within the game's Palaces. Its infectious bassline and memorable riffs have cemented its status as a classic.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover respectfully honors the original while adding a fresh perspective. The arrangement cleverly transforms the song into a jazz fusion masterpiece, leveraging the expertise of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. As the music video's description notes, the collaboration with Button Masher further enhanced the track's harmonic complexity.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Announced

The Grammy Awards also 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, earning a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The award, first presented to Stephanie Economou for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, was won last year by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

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