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! This article explores this significant achievement for the talented musicians involved.

8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" Earns Grammy Recognition

The 8-Bit Big Band's innovative jazz interpretation of Persona 5's battle theme, "Last Surprise," is nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" category at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The performance features Grammy-winner Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synthesizers and the powerful vocals of Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops).

"Just nominated for my 4th Grammy IN A ROW!!!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on X (formerly Twitter). This marks the band's second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge."

The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on February 2nd.

Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its distinctive acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," a fan favorite, is particularly memorable for its presence in the game's challenging Palace dungeons. Its infectious energy and memorable riffs have cemented its place in gaming history.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover skillfully honors the original while injecting its own unique flair. The arrangement transforms the track into a captivating jazz fusion piece, leveraging the expertise of Dirty Loops' Jonah Nilsson. As noted in the music video description, the group even enlisted Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity, reflecting Dirty Loops' signature style.

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 remarkable streak, earning 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 new interpretations and introducing them to wider audiences.