The 8-Bit Big Band's jazz rendition 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 mainstream. Let's delve into the details of this well-deserved accolade.
The 8-Bit Big Band's masterful jazz arrangement of Persona 5's battle theme, "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.
"Another Grammy nomination! Four in a row!," exclaimed Charlie Rosen, leader of The 8-Bit Big Band, on Twitter (X). "Video game music is alive and well!" This isn't the band's first Grammy; they previously won in 2022 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 in the same category at the Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2nd, 2025.
Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its distinctive acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," however, stands out as a particular fan favorite, its energetic rhythm and memorable melodies accompanying players throughout the game's challenging Palaces.The 8-Bit Big Band's cover respectfully honors the original while adding a unique jazz fusion twist, showcasing the signature sound of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. As noted in the music video description, the collaboration with Button Masher enhanced the harmonic complexity, reflecting Dirty Loops' distinctive style.
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, receiving a nomination every year since the category's inception.
The award, first presented to Stephanie Economou for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, last went to Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
The enduring popularity of video game music is undeniable, and covers like The 8-Bit Big Band's demonstrate the lasting power of these compositions, inspiring new interpretations that resonate with broader audiences.
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