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NEOWIZ is marking World Environment Day with exciting updates to its relaxing mobile game, Cats and Soup. The game trades its familiar forests and kitchens for a serene underwater world featuring seas
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The 8-Bit Big Band's jazz rendition of Persona 5's iconic "Last Surprise" has received a Grammy nomination! This exciting news highlights the growing recognition of video game music within the mainstream music industry. Let's delve into the details of this well-deserved achievement.
8-Bit Big Band's Second Grammy Nomination
The 8-Bit Big Band's "Last Surprise" cover is nominated for "Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. This marks their second Grammy nomination, following their 2022 win for their "Meta Knight's Revenge" cover. The arrangement features the talents of Grammy Award-winning musician Jake Silverman (Button Masher) on synth and vocalist Jonah Nilsson (Dirty Loops). Bandleader Charlie Rosen expressed his excitement on Twitter (X), celebrating this significant milestone for video game music.
The "Last Surprise" cover will compete against notable artists including Willow Smith and John Legend in this prestigious category. The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony takes place on February 2nd.
A Jazz Fusion Masterpiece
Persona 5's soundtrack, composed by Shoji Meguro, is renowned for its acid jazz style. "Last Surprise," a fan-favorite battle theme, perfectly embodies this energy. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover masterfully transforms the original track into a vibrant jazz fusion arrangement, showcasing the unique talents of Jonah Nilsson's band, Dirty Loops. The inclusion of Button Masher further enhances the harmonic complexity, creating a truly captivating listening experience.
Other Video Game Score Grammy Nominations
The Grammy Awards also announced nominees for "Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media." This year's contenders are:
- 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 nomination, marking his presence in this category every year since its inception.
The Grammy nomination for "Last Surprise" underscores the enduring power and artistic merit of video game music. The 8-Bit Big Band's cover serves as a testament to the creative potential of reinterpreting classic game scores for a wider audience, ensuring their continued relevance and appreciation.
