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.
Persona 5's "Last Surprise" Earns Grammy Recognition for 8-Bit Big Band's Jazz Interpretation
8-Bit Big Band Secures Second Grammy Nomination with Persona 5 Battle Theme Cover
The 8-Bit Big Band's innovative jazz rendition of Persona 5's "Last Surprise" has been nominated for a Grammy Award! Featuring Grammy-winner Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synthesizers and vocals by Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops), this unique interpretation is vying for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
"Another Grammy nomination! My fourth in a row!!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on X (formerly Twitter). "VIDEO GAME MUSIC FOREVER!!!" While Rosen highlights his personal theater achievements, this isn't the band's first Grammy nod; they previously won "Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella" in 2022 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 February 2nd, 2025 ceremony.
Persona 5's acclaimed acid jazz soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, features "Last Surprise" as a fan favorite. The track's energetic bassline and memorable riffs have cemented its popularity, accompanying players through countless Palace battles.The 8-Bit Big Band's cover respectfully honors the original while adding a distinctive jazz fusion twist, reflecting the style of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. As the music video notes, they enlisted Button Masher to enhance the harmonic complexity.
2025 Grammy Nominations for Best Video Game Score Unveiled
The Grammy Awards announced nominees for "Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media." This year's contenders include:
⚫︎ Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Pinar Toprak (composer) ⚫︎ God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, Bear McCreary (composer) ⚫︎ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, John Paesano (composer) ⚫︎ Star Wars Outlaws, Wilbert Roget, II (composer) ⚫︎ Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, Winifred Phillips (composer)
Bear McCreary achieves a remarkable feat, receiving a nomination every year since the category's inception.
The award, which debuted with Stephanie Economou's win for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, saw Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab win last year for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Video game music holds a cherished place in gaming culture. Covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the enduring power of these compositions, inspiring fresh interpretations that resonate with wider audiences.
