In 2010, I finally got a break after all the courtroom drama and jail time and arrests. It was an offer to go back to Korea and perform in celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of my first trip there. I was kind of nervous at first, but I knew I had to do it. If I wanted to get back into singing—if I wanted to prove myself—this would be the way to do it. There were a lot of people and a lot of attention. We headed over there and performed a series of shows. Women brought their children. It was amazing. There were thousands of people who knew all the words to all of the old songs. It took me back to the craziness of 1980, when I was the first American pop artist to play over there.
And it was exciting for me to be back onstage. I knew a lot of people had counted me out, but I wanted to show everybody that I still had some gas left in the tank. Up on the stage, singing “I Was Made for Dancing” actually felt good. I had grown up. It wasn’t like the old days. I was there on my own terms. As I stood on that stage, my mind flashed back to what it had been like being in Korea the first time. Maybe there was hope for me. I looked out at the crowd, and everyone was going crazy. They believed me. It wasn’t over. There was another road for me. And I was going to take it.
I was broken, I had challenges, but I also had hope. It’s very hard to describe how healing it can be looking out into a crowd and feeling nothing but love bouncing back. My life up to that point had been an amazing roller coaster with thrilling highs and desperate lows. Could I have used a little bit more middle ground to round things out and keep me centered? Perhaps, but we don’t always get to decide all of those things.
One thing I know is that I’ve taken the life that has been given to me and I haven’t always valued it perhaps the way I should. But as I look down the road now, I know what I want to do. I know I want to keep making music; I know I want to act; I know I want to be responsible; I know I want to be a good person. Despite everything that’s happened to me, I still don’t think I would trade any of it because it has made me what I am. I’m a survivor, but I’m also a dreamer. I believe in the good of people. I’m positive. I will always believe that love is the most important, unifying force on the planet. For all of the love that I have felt from so many of you over the years, thank you so much. Now let’s get on with the rest of the show.