Mishka became interested in jazz at the age of 3 and her very first initiations into music were old songs, including those of Joni Mitchell, which she listened to as a child. She then began saxophone lessons at the age of 10 and by 14 she was singing jazz standards.
Whilst taking her A levels at King’s School in Canterbury she joined the school jazz band where she was associated with some of the rising young talents of the school. Having just hurdled her A levels in Canterbury, Mishka flew back to Manila after nine years of boarding school to continue her studies at the University of the Philippines – College of music – majoring in saxophone.
She was introduced for the first time on stage where she performed with the former first lady Amelita Ramos’ Executive Jazz Band at the ‘Coming Home’ Show, a benefit show for the Museum Foundation in Manila. Henceforth, she performed in many jazz venues & music festivals in Manila.
Mishka was invited as guest artist at a major event organized by the British Council (Manila) – a music spectacular ‘Jazz in Time’ featuring the UK jazz legend Courtney Pine and Cameron Pierre, one of Candid’s artists. Her impeccable rendition of Billie Holiday’s signature song ‘God Bless the Child’, earned this young talent the immediate admiration of the audience. A representative from CANDID Philippines office asked her for a demo which was immediately sent to Alan Bates in London for approval. In barely two weeks, she was signed up and given a budget for a new recording.
Mishka’s new album highlights her individual approach to standards, incorporating world music and African-reggae inspired beats into her originals. Mishka’s charismatic innocence is put to good use in her repertoire ranging from classics like Change Partners and Autumn Leaves to her originals Where do we Begin? and War of the Skies.
Autumn Leaves
Mishka Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The lyrics of Mishka Adams's song "Autumn Leaves" are a melancholic reminder of a lost love that is still alive in the dying autumn leaves. The falling leaves outside the window serve as a metaphor for the fading memories and heartache the singer experiences. The images of summer kisses and sun-burned hands recall the happier moments that the singer shared with her lover. However, since the lover has gone away, the days seem longer and colder, and soon the winter will arrive with its sorrowful song. The singer confesses that she misses her darling the most when the autumn leaves start to fall, as this season symbolizes the end of something beautiful and the beginning of something different.
The second part of the song is in French and adds another layer of meaning to the English lyrics. It speaks of two lovers who used to love each other deeply but who were separated by the vagaries of life. The verses lament how fate can slowly and silently erode the bonds between people until they become strangers. The final line about the sea erasing the footsteps of the parted lovers highlights the poetic nature of the song and how the passing of time can make even the most vivid memories fade away.
Overall, Mishka Adams's "Autumn Leaves" is a poignant and wistful ballad that captures the bittersweet feeling of lost love that still lingers in the mind and heart.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves are falling slowly and smoothly, as they are carried by the wind past the window.
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves of autumn have a stunning combination of red and gold shades.
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I remember the sweet kisses we shared during the summer season when I see your lips.
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I remember holding your hands during those sunny days when we spent time together.
Since you went away the days grow long
The days seem long and never-ending since you left me.
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is coming soon and I will hear its cold and harshness.
But I miss you most of all my darling
Out of everything and everyone, I miss you the most, my love.
When autumn leaves start to fall
It's during the fall season that I feel your absence the most.
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that represents us, our love story.
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you.
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We lived together as one.
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You were the one who loved me while I loved you too.
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
However, life has a way of separating those who love each other.
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
It happens gradually, without making any sounds.
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And just like how the waves of the sea erase the footprints on the sand, so does life erase the memories of two lovers who are no longer together.
Writer(s): Kosma Joseph, Jacques Prevert, Prevert Jacques Andre Marie
Contributed by Audrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.