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 broader music industry. Let's delve into the details of this well-deserved accolade.

8-Bit Big Band's Second Grammy Nomination

The 8-Bit Big Band's vibrant jazz interpretation of "Last Surprise" is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This nomination features the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops) on vocals. Bandleader Charlie Rosen expressed his excitement on Twitter (X), celebrating this as his fourth consecutive Grammy nomination. This marks the second Grammy nomination for The 8-Bit Big Band, 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 in the same category. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 2nd.

Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," however, stands out as a fan favorite, its energetic rhythm and memorable melodies having resonated deeply with players throughout countless hours of gameplay. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover skillfully honors the original while injecting its own unique jazz fusion flair, leveraging the expertise of Dirty Loops' Jonah Nilsson. The inclusion of Button Masher further enhanced the harmonic complexity of the arrangement.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score

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 achieved a remarkable feat, securing 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 that reach new audiences and solidify the genre's place in mainstream music.