The 8-Bit Big Band's jazz rendition 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 broader music industry. Let's delve into the details of this significant achievement.
Persona 5's "Last Surprise" Earns Grammy Recognition for 8-Bit Big Band's Jazz Interpretation
A Second Grammy Nomination for The 8-Bit Big Band
The 8-Bit Big Band's innovative jazz arrangement of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This impressive feat features the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops) on vocals.
"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 nomination marks the band's second Grammy nod, following their 2022 win for their "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover.
In this prestigious category, The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend at the Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2nd, 2025.
Composer Shoji Meguro's acid jazz soundtrack for Persona 5 is widely acclaimed, with "Last Surprise" standing out as a particular fan favorite. Its infectious energy and memorable melodies have resonated deeply with players throughout countless hours of gameplay within the game's Palaces.The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully honors the original while injecting its own unique flair. The transformation into a jazz fusion arrangement, a style synonymous with Dirty Loops, elevates the song's inherent charisma. As the music video's description notes, the band collaborated with Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity, reflecting Dirty Loops' signature sound.
2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Unveiled
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 achieves a remarkable milestone, earning a nomination every year since the category's inception. This year's nomination follows his previous nods for Call of Duty Vanguard (2023) and God of War Ragnarök (2024).
Video game music holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers, and The 8-Bit Big Band's cover exemplifies how these cherished compositions can inspire fresh interpretations and introduce them to a wider audience.
