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 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.

A Second Grammy Nomination for The 8-Bit Big Band

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 impressive achievement features the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops) on vocals. This marks the band's second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge."

Bandleader Charlie Rosen expressed his excitement on Twitter (X), celebrating the nomination and the continued recognition of video game music.

"Last Surprise" Takes Center Stage

The original "Last Surprise," composed by Shoji Meguro, is a beloved track from Persona 5, known for its infectious energy and memorable melodies. Its popularity stems from its role as the game's main battle theme, accompanying players through countless hours of gameplay.

The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully reimagines the classic track, infusing it with their signature jazz fusion style, heavily influenced by the distinctive sound of Dirty Loops. The addition of Button Masher further enhances the harmonic complexity, creating a truly unique and captivating listening experience. You can experience this fantastic arrangement via the embedded YouTube video below.

Video Game Music's Grammy Recognition

Beyond "Last Surprise," 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 impressive streak, earning a nomination every year since the category's inception.

The growing recognition of video game music at the Grammys underscores its artistic merit and cultural impact. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" demonstrate the enduring power of these compositions and their ability to inspire new creative interpretations, reaching wider audiences and solidifying video game music's place in the mainstream.