Grammy Nomination Propels Game Music to Center Stage

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 in the mainstream. Let's delve into the details of this well-deserved accolade.

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 arrangement of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This impressive achievement 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 thriving!" This nomination follows their 2022 Grammy win for "Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella" 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 at the Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2nd, 2025.

Persona 5's acclaimed acid jazz soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, features many memorable tracks. However, "Last Surprise" stands out as a fan favorite, its energetic rhythm and infectious melodies resonating deeply with players throughout their Palace adventures.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover beautifully honors the original while injecting its own unique flair. The jazz fusion arrangement, a hallmark of Dirty Loops' style, elevates the song's energy. As the music video notes, Button Masher's contributions further enhance the harmonic richness, aligning with Dirty Loops' signature sound.

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 achieves a remarkable feat, 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, last went to Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Video game music holds a special place in the hearts of many. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the enduring power of these compositions, inspiring new interpretations and expanding their reach to wider audiences.