Wow, I knew Pitbull was going to be a performer, but this good? This good was something I never expected.

In April, I went to Stagecoach Festival for the first time with a group of friends. Pitbull was definitely the artist I was most excited to see. Personally, I like country music, but I am not obsessed with it, so I was ready to change things up a bit and hear Mr. Worldwide himself. He was set to perform at 11 p.m., and with every passing hour, I got more excited.

However, if you haven’t heard, Stagecoach had a mandatory evacuation around 8 p.m. because of dangerously high winds. Nobody knew what was going to happen next—whether the festival would reopen, whether Pitbull would still perform, or what the plan even was. So, amidst the chaos, I went back to where I was staying, changed into sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt, and sadly queued Pitbull songs instead. Then, after about 30 minutes of relaxing, I got the notification: Stagecoach had reopened, and Pitbull’s set was pushed back to midnight.

Best news of my life.

Still in my pajamas, I threw on sunglasses and a cowboy hat and made my way back to the main stage. I can tell you first-hand that his stage presence should genuinely be studied. You could feel his energy from miles away. My friends and I made it just in time, arriving at 12:03 as he walked out in his infamous sunglasses, all-black suit, and, of course, bald head, opening with “Don’t Stop the Party.” The party had just started. Pitbull became famous not only for his music, but also for his contagious energy. Through an entire 90-minute set, the energy never dropped once. There were people of all ages and backgrounds in the crowd, all equally enthralled in the music and atmosphere. Maybe it was his opening message about turning his life “from a negative to a positive” that set the tone for the night. Whatever it was, the crowd was completely absorbed by it.

There was this genuine mix of adrenaline and happiness as everyone jumped to the beat, screamed the lyrics, and danced however they wanted.  I mean this when I say it—I felt his songs in my veins!

I somehow managed to get a spot near the barricade, so I had an up-close view of Pitbull and his six backup dancers, who somehow kept up their energy for the entire show. The stage had a flashy Miami-inspired vibe with bright lights and constant movement. Pitbull frequently involved the audience, even teaching us Spanish phrases at certain points and having the crowd chant “sí” and “no” back to him. I also appreciated how much he embraced his Cuban heritage throughout the performance, shouting out his hometown of Miami and incorporating Spanish lyrics into the set.

One thing that made the concert especially entertaining was how he introduced songs with hints and little lead-ups. Before “Hotel Room Service,” he started talking about hotels. Before “Timber,” he teased the lyrics with “you better dance.” And before “Fireball”… wow. “Fireball” might have been the best thing I’ve ever experienced live. It was so good he played it twice.

What surprised me most was how many Pitbull songs I actually knew. I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore fan—I listen to his music casually—but somehow I knew almost every lyric. Maybe it’s because so many of his songs were huge chart hits. It also helped that the lyrics were displayed on the screens behind him, which I always love at concerts because it makes the experience feel more interactive and engaging.

Another unexpected part of the show was how motivational he was. Between songs, he would randomly launch into affirmations and speeches about life, and somehow the entire crowd went along with it. Before performing “Time of Our Lives,” he told the audience, “Life is not a waste of time. And time is not a waste of life. So let’s not waste any time… have the time of our lives.” It sounds cheesy on paper, but it completely worked in the moment.

Pitbull was more than enough on his own, so nobody cared that featured artists like Kesha, Usher, or Christina Aguilera weren’t there. Part of what makes him so likable is that he doesn’t try to be anything other than himself. He is just really a guy in his forties having the time of his life onstage, and people love him for it. During the show, he even shared photos of the schools he has helped build in Miami and talked about the importance of education and being yourself. His authenticity is genuinely magnetic, and by the end of the concert, it was impossible not to understand why he has such a loyal fanbase.

So, if you’ve even considered going to his “I’m Back Tour” stop at the Hollywood Bowl on May 30, go. It’s the kind of concert everyone should experience at least once. I’ve heard people even show up wearing bald caps, suits, and sunglasses to match the vibe, and after seeing him live, I get it now.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the front row or sitting high up in the back. Pitbull somehow creates enough energy to reach every single corner of the venue. His tour also features Lil Jon, who made a surprise appearance at Stagecoach and brought even more energy to the show.

I hope this article convinced you to get those tickets, and as Pitbull himself would say, get ready for the “time of your life!”