Simply Beautiful

The song 'Simply' by Sara Hickman holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I hear this song, I cannot help but stop whatever I am doing and just let myself be carried away by its haunting melody.

It reminds me of Beth, my best friend in college who passed away a month and a half after our graduation in 1991, an event that I had to skip due to some important matters that I had to attend in Manila.

This was not the first time I've shared and written about this song and its significance in my life. I wrote 'Simply Beth-iful' in 2009 when I first came across a video of Sara Hickman playing the song for some close friends in YouTube. Just like before as it is now, the power of the song, the lyrics' message, and the effect of its melody remain the same to me.

Anyway, I found this video on YouTube today and I suddenly remembered that Beth's birthday was five days ago. Also, this time around Ms. Hickman performs 'Simply' in a duet with her teenage daughter, giving it a different take but still retaining the beauty of the song.

Sara & Lily Hickman: Simply from Andy Cafa on Vimeo.

"Simply Beth-iful"

I came across this home video by Sara Hickman while trolling YouTube today. Although I am not that familiar with her career as a singer, her song, 'Simply' touches me in a very special way.

I have not heard this song in more than a decade and hearing it again is like a breath of fresh air for me. Actually, it was really bittersweet. You see, the song is a favorite of somebody dear to me and the melody is simply beautiful…

Beth, my college buddy used to sing the song in our ’tambayan.’ On some occasions, I would end up accompanying her on my old acoustic guitar while she would fill the air with her hauntingly soft beautiful voice. I even remember now of composing a short instrumental piece based on the song in her honor while under the influence of the spirit of the great San Miguel. J

We became friends during the second year of our Pre- Med-- dissected cats together, goofed around in chemistry lab, fooled our geriatric professor countless of times, good-naturedly embarrassed one another countless of times, and drank our hearts out in the evenings.

We did a lot of stuff that could make some people laugh, cry and cringe at the same time. Yes, we did smile in happy times and understood each other in silence during sad times.

So, tonight I will drink a bottle or two of my fave Bud, dust off my old acoustic guitar and play the song once again for you, my dear old friend.

I say, thank you dear friend for the beautiful memories and thank you Ms. Hickman for the lovely melody.


*Beth died in a tragic accident a month after our graduation, 18 years ago today.