If there’s one assumption about going to concerts that I believe in, it’s that you never forget your first one.

There’s just something about the anticipation, counting down the days until you finally get to see the live show. For me, the famous face I was counting down the days to see was Ke$ha, whose real name is Kesha Rose Sebert.

The day my friend told me Ke$ha was coming to his college campus and he’d bought me a ticket, I focused on little else than the excitement of seeing one of my favorite artists live. I painted my nails with purple glitter: a Ke$ha staple. I played her CDs on repeat in my car for weeks, much to the dismay of some of my passengers.

My friend didn’t just buy me a ticket, though, he bought me one of the greatest gifts imaginable. He bought me a memorable night full of moments I still replay in my head.

Finally surpassing the long anticipation, the day in April came and the reality of the actual event set in. I arrived at Wright State University and met up with my friend. We were running late, which forced us to rush to get ready and find our seats in a hurry.

At least we thought we found our seats, but we were actually those embarrassing concert-goers who accidentally sat down in the wrong place.

We stumbled into our actual seats as the stadium went dark and Beardo, Ke$ha’s opening act, took the stage. As for him, let’s just say he didn’t win me over until the very end of the concert, when Ke$ha brought him back onstage and they covered the Beastie Boys’ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”

Everything else about the concert was fabulous. From the glitter cannon Ke$ha used to shower fans with silver glitter to the audience members she plastic-wrapped to a chair onstage and the high-energy music, the entire experience was something only Ke$ha could provide.

It was the perfect concert, especially to be my first. My friend and I had an amazing time dancing and singing (or wailing) along to every song. I had the time of my life.

What I wish for everyone is to have a first concert experience as memorable as mine. I know concerts aren’t for everyone, but if you like music, and you have a little extra cash, I think concerts are worth it. They provide an experience that recorded music just can’t give and memories to last forever.