by Steven Sanchez
Kings River Life had the privilege of covering “Mr. Worldwide” himself, Pitbull, on July 28, when he entertained the crowd at Table Mountain Casino. The rapper, singer, songwriter, businessman, and actor brought his signature blend of genres to the show. He’s known for dabbling in all kinds of musical styles ranging from hip hop, Latin, reggaeton, rap, and pop. All the hits he played were equally satisfying to the diverse crowd who attended the show. We had the honor of covering him back in February 2020, so it’s been a long time coming for his return, and it was great.
Pitbull
For me, it was like being back in high school and college all over again. His singles served as background music to my upbringing during those years. Pitbull’s songs are considered dance music, so whenever we were in the mood to dance, party, or go out to the clubs, his music was always a requirement.
This guy has worked with just about every artist under the sun for his songs: Lil’ Jon, Fat Joe, Akon, T-Pain, Ne-Yo, Marc Anthony, Chris Brown, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, and Jennifer Lopez. He was featured as a guest collaborator for artists Ying Yang Twins, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Usher, and many more. He has more collaborations than any other musical artist. When it comes to Pitbull, there’s a song in his discography that you have either heard of or that you like.
The Miami native played a jukebox set of all his hits ranging from “Rain Over Me,” “I Feel Good,” “On the Floor,” “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” “The Anthem,” and “Timber.” He even gave an ode to his eclectic taste in music by playing “Sweet Child o’ Mine” from Guns N’ Roses and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” at different moments within his set.
And every now and then, he gave inspirational speeches to the audience to uplift people’s spirits. One being how no matter what our skin color is, what we believe in, or where we come from, music is the very thing that can unite us. Another being there’s enough bad in the world, so do good things, be good to others, and, as a person, just be good. Very wise words.
Another surprise for me was seeing the diverse crowd in the audience. I assumed that I’d see mostly people my age, since his music was a part of my generation. But no, there was an assortment of people there who were young and old, and of so many nationalities. There’s a reason why he’s called “Mr. Worldwide:” His music appeals to everybody, and the eclectic crowd was proof of that. He performed “Give Me Everything” which got everyone jumping and feeling good and was enhanced when confetti rained all over the room. He concluded the night with “Time of Our Lives.”
Not only was it a great production from Pitbull, his team, and his crew, but much appreciation should go to Table Mountain Casino as well. A big thank you to Tom Muzquiz and Frida Karlsson for facilitating our request to cover the show.
And the new and improved casino can’t be underestimated. Of course, the old one will hold a special place in people’s hearts and will be a monument to the citizens of the Central Valley. This new one is a major upgrade on every level. I attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for college and stuck around during my post-grad years, so I know my way around casinos. I got to say, this place felt very much like a Vegas casino. More slots, more lights, more space, the aura, and the vibe; it was all there.
It was my first time covering the show and just being there in general. This new Table Mountain is destined to do great things in the future. They’ve already set the tone this summer with classic rock singer/songwriter/guitarist John Fogerty, who performed before Pitbull did. The casino is not only stepping up their game in presentation and options but entertainment as well. Can’t wait to see who they’ll bring in the future! This version of Table Mountain has made it known that they’re ready to bring high level talent to the Central Valley, and Pitbull has set that bar high for the great things that are to come for the casino and resort.
0 Comments