Persona 5’s “Last Surprise” Grammy Nomination Brings Game Music to the Mainstream

Persona 5's "Last Surprise" Earns 8-Bit Big Band a Grammy Nomination

The 8-Bit Big Band's electrifying jazz arrangement of Persona 5's iconic battle theme, "Last Surprise," has received a Grammy nomination! This marks the band's second Grammy nod, following their 2022 win for their "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover.

This exciting jazz rendition features the talents of Grammy winner Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synthesizers and the powerful vocals of Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops). The track is vying for the prestigious "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" award at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

"Another Grammy nomination!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on Twitter (X). "Game music continues to triumph!" The 8-Bit Big Band's success highlights the growing recognition of video game music within the broader music industry.

The "Last Surprise" cover will compete against notable artists like Willow Smith and John Legend in the same category. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony takes place on February 2nd.

The original "Last Surprise," composed by Shoji Meguro, is a fan favorite from Persona 5's critically acclaimed soundtrack. Its infectious energy and memorable melodies have resonated with players for years. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully retains the song's essence while adding a unique jazz fusion twist, showcasing the band's signature style. The group even collaborated with Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity, drawing inspiration from Dirty Loops' sound.

2025 Grammy Nominees 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 continues to make Grammy history with his consecutive nominations in this category since its inception.

The growing recognition of video game music at the Grammys underscores its artistic merit and cultural impact. The 8-Bit Big Band's nomination, alongside the other impressive nominees, signifies a bright future for the genre.