Video game music cover band The 8-Bit Big Band has won its second Grammy Award for its Super Mario gospel mix.
Before introducing an award dedicated to video game music, the Grammy Awards have had some video game tunes sneak into the award shows. First to the plate was Civilization 4's theme song, Baba Yetu, winning the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals in 2011 (when it was re-released for composer Christopher Tin's debut album). But despite the litany of iconic music tracks, Nintendo music has only just won a second award, and neither win has been for Nintendo itself.
The gospel-inspired Super Mario medley, Super Mario Praise Break – which features the likes of the series' main theme, Bob-omb Battlefield, and Gusty Garden Galaxy – won the group its second Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella award, beating out the likes of Wicked star Cynthia Erivo. However, the group's nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album sadly lost out to Christian McBride Big Band.
As for the award dedicated to game music, Journey composer Austin Wintory won with Sword of the Sea. Wintory has had four nominations, and to date his score for Journey is the only video game to be nominated for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
The Grammy category historically loves adaptations of films, so Sword of the Sea beating out the likes of Star Wars Outlaws' DLC, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires was somewhat of a surprise. Controversially, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was nowhere to be seen in the category, with Wintory himself saying he'd "happily trade places" with the game ahead of the ceremony.
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