One singer's view of Rihanna

L.A. musician Ashleigh Haney, who I've mentioned here a couple of times, is back on tour as a backup singer for Rihanna, living the strange life of world traveler and stage-view witness to a pop culture phenomenon. She posted on her Facebook page about last week's stop at Staples Center — "AWESOME show last night! Eminem is intense man" — and on her blog This Lovely Life talks about how cool she finds the whole thing, despite missing her boyfriend and her own music. She posted this, about being on stage again, after the Last Girl on Earth Tour hit Sacramento before coming to L.A. Excerpt:

The arena was large, but shallow in depth, so I could see all the way back to the very back row. It was oddly calming. As I looked out at the arms waving, the faces yelling and cheering, and the moves being "busted," (because honestly, that's exactly what some of them were! ;) it suddenly felt so...real. I was overcome by how much love and joy was in that room....

I am SO grateful to be able to travel around and play some part, no matter the size, in bringing smiles to the faces of so many people. Actually, I'm blown away by it. Watching the audience tonight, I was struck by the span of this woman's reach. There were upwards of 17,000 people there this evening, and that is just ONE city. In just ONE country! This woman whom I have come to know as a spirited, fun-loving, compassionate and pretty normal girl, all things considered, has been able to touch so many lives with her art. Wow. I love that something like that is even possible.

To anyone reading this and planning on attending a future date on our tour, keep jumping and waving and smiling, because I can see you.

Here's a Rihanna's-eye view of last week's Staples Center concert. Haney is the singer on the far side.

Video: stst78 on YouTube