BIG OCEAN Show Actions Speak Louder Than Words in New Single “Make It Up To You”

If there’s one thing BIG OCEAN have made clear, it’s that they rarely settle for the expected. As plans for the European leg of “The Greatest Battle” tour shifted due to unforeseen circumstances, the trio – PJ, Jiseok, and Chanyeon – have since been making flowers out of the situation. To make up for lost time with overseas fans, they held a private online concert exclusive to past ticket holders while still incorporating their setlist and fun segments in between.

Beyond issuing an official statement, the trio continued to show their sincere commitment to meet each other again. Surprising their fans, known as PADOs, the group turns back to what brought them all together in the first place through their new release “Make It Up To You.”

You’re the Best Vacation

Composed of electric guitar sounds with soft background beats, “Make It Up To You” is an upbeat ballad that leans into the catchiness of pop rock. While the song originally begins with airy piano notes, the transition to a quicker tempo is seamless and reflected through shots of the members racing against time. Addressing how they “Missed the flight that night / Left you alone under lights,” the group is wholeheartedly determined to make things right again. In the music video, you’ll find each of them traveling across New York City at iconic locations, including the subway station at 23 Street, the LIRR station, and Grand Central Terminal. But as a special nod to European PADOs in particular, the members intentionally sing verses in French, German, and Polish on top of their usual style of mixing Korean and English. 

Once the group finally gets a hold of each other and reunites at Coney Island, a wave of relief comes over them while they sing the chorus’ signature lines, “So let me make it up to you / Oh, for your love, there’s nothing I won’t do.” Compared to the past distress and desperation on their faces from before, all three singers wear bright smiles on their faces and look more carefree than ever. As their fandom name PADO is the Korean word for wave, the video pans to them running towards the water signifying their close-knit ties to fans no matter what comes in their way. Adding to all the emotion, you can see a special message of PADO with a heart drawn in the sand. The video closes out with BIG OCEAN enjoying an early sunrise on the beach, while signing lyrics from the song directly to the camera. 

Of course, creating a gesture of this magnitude required more than a “One Man Army.” Collaborating again with Frankie Biggz, the GRAMMY Award-winning producer has become a beloved peer amongst the members for his insightful guidance and connection to the Deaf community. Along with each member participating in the lyrics process, Frankie Biggz, Irene Bauza, Marcus A. Lucio, Jordan T. Gant, Sun.C, and Kwak Su-jin teamed up to create a love letter that feels vulnerable and purposeful to the group. 

The Next Wave

Wrapping up the US leg of “The Greatest Battle” tour in April, BIG OCEAN have certainly been keeping themselves booked and busy. Their recent fan-meeting event in Korea is already receiving love online, while the members are getting ready to hit the stage again this Tuesday at The 37th World Congress of Audiology in Seoul. Their performance will mark a meaningful occasion for connecting accessibility experts from around the world with the universal language of music. 

You can stay updated with BIG OCEAN on Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Looking for more new releases to add to your playlist? Read our latest Sunday Spin featuring Olivia Rodrigo, PSYCHIC FEVER, and TAEMIN!