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 "Last Surprise" Earns Grammy Nomination

The acclaimed jazz orchestra, The 8-Bit Big Band, has received a Grammy nomination for their unique jazz rendition of Persona 5's iconic battle theme, "Last Surprise." This marks their second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover.

This exciting news comes as a testament to the band's talent and the enduring appeal of video game music. The arrangement features the Grammy-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and the powerful vocals of Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops). Their "Last Surprise" cover is nominated in the "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" category at the 2025 Grammy Awards, competing against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend.

"Just nominated for my 4th Grammy IN A ROW!!!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on X (formerly Twitter). "LONG LIVE VIDEO GAME MUSIC!!!"

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover cleverly transforms the original "Last Surprise" into a captivating jazz fusion piece, showcasing the distinctive style of Dirty Loops. The group even enlisted Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity, adding a layer of sophistication to the already popular track. The energetic bassline and memorable riffs of the original composition remain, but are elevated by the innovative jazz arrangement.

Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is widely praised for its distinctive acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," in particular, has garnered significant popularity among fans due to its frequent appearance during intense battles within the game's Palaces.

2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Announced

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 to make Grammy history with his yearly nomination in this category since its inception.

The growing recognition of video game music through awards like the Grammys highlights the enduring power and artistic merit of these often-overlooked compositions. The 8-Bit Big Band's nomination showcases the potential for these scores to inspire fresh, innovative interpretations that resonate with a wider audience.