The Chaser Archives: 2003

'Seussical' is whimsical musical

A pre-SNC article from when Charlie and Steve were in "Seussical the Musical." *adorable photo alert* I would have loved to have seen this! But that probably goes without saying, huh?

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By Ivan M. Lincoln

Deseret Morning News

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003

"...Charlie Mechling and Steve Morgan do some clever monkeying around as the Wickersham Brothers."

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/515038969/Seussical-is-whimsical-musical.html

Hat Tip: @StarstruckCanuk

Twenty Nights


Album cover photos by Maria Ponce My autographed and framed Twenty Nights insert - thank you Michael, Dan, Charlie and Jerome!

Track Listing
(Click a link to go to lyrics for that song.)

BEGINNING

SHE'S EVERYTHING

NEVER SAY GOODBYE

STEAL THE HORIZON

I WILL FOLLOW YOU

IF I COULD SEE TOMORROW

ANOTHER FACE

NO OTHER WOMAN

THE TIME HAS COME

LIGHT YOUR WAY

OFF BALANCE

MOONLIGHT

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

the sun and all its wonder holds onto the sky above
when I feel you coming
yeah I feel you coming,
the earth is moving slowly, breathing with a life
inside and I see you running
yeah I see you running,
and then I listen, waiting for the music and now I
hear it strumming
yeah I hear the strumming

the sound is moving closer, everyone is racing and no
one knows who's winning
you're the one who's winning,
and when the others fail, you provide the power that
keeps the wheel spinning
yeah my head is spinning,
you're almost with me and I keep forgetting that this
is the beginning,
only the beginning

I'll fall for you
I'll call for you
the time has come for me to make the choice
I know just what I have to do

the choices lay before me, and they keep me waiting
for a moment of glory
oh, the chance of glory,
I know I need to find you, you alone can write the
words to complete my story,
you complete my story,
I reach my hand out, longing for the touch from you
that will send me soaring,
you will send me soaring

SHE'S EVERYTHING

Music by Keith Thomas
Words by Michael Itkoff, Daniel Ponce, Jerome Collins, Steven Morgan and Charlie Mechling

I see the morning light, I've been awake all night
lying, thinking about her
the beauty of her face, the warmth of her embrace
she is everything to me
and every moment that she's gone
makes me love her more

I just lay here staring at nothing
picturing her face,
I will stay here until she's beside me
she's everything I'm looking for

Oh yeah she's the air that I take when I breathe,
when I sigh, right?
she's the sound that I make, for her sake
I do the things I do,
I'm gonna be a better man because of you

and when I take her hand, she makes me understand
that I can't live without her,
and I would give so much just to feel her touch,
she is everything to me,
and every moment that she's gone
makes me love her more

she's everything I believe in,
and when I lose my way, she takes me home,
only the thought of her leaving
could make me feel alone

with everyday I love her more
she's everything I'm looking for

NEVER SAY GOODBYE

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

You always told me I could follow my dreams,
you always followed yours, you taught me how to
believe,
and now you're asking why I've chosen this road,
you have to understand this isn't easy for me

I don't know how to console you,
I only know how to hold you
while I take in this moment to relive when I'm gone,
I don't understand why you have to cry,
I know the day will come when we will never say goodbye

I spent so many nights just holding your hand
while I lay awake, so scared of letting you go
I find it harder now to leave this embrace,
and it's killing me, your tears are burning my soul

don't ever lose the love you feel when I am near,
you really have to try to hold your head up high,
I'll be there by your side some day

STEAL THE HORIZON

Music by Michael Itkoff, Daniel Ponce and Ezekiel Lewis
Words by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

Here I am walking next to you
there's so much on my mind, let's leave them behind
so I can begin to tell you,
listen and guide me, I know we can make it
let's take it through the new day, a greater day

we need to move forward,
believing as one,
there's no limitation to what we'll become,
something has shown us that we can move on
and it will begin with the dawn

only now, I realize what I feel
only now, together we'll steal the horizon
and focus our eyes on the compass that points towards the sky

I'm watching our footprints in the sand
then the water will rise before our eyes
and they'll disappear forever,
but as we keep walking our steps will be stronger
the longer we're moving, we're moving

I won't take for granted the words of a friend
we've got to keep going to see where it ends,
something has shown us that we can move on
and it will begin with the dawn

I WILL FOLLOW YOU

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

All the leaves are falling
they cover every road,
and now that things are changing for you and I
help me understand which way to go
can you forget about what's happening tomorrow,
and be with me tonight?

'cause I don't want to stay, if you're a thousand
miles away,
my heart can reach forever, and I don't think I'll
ever be so far away, until the end of never, I will give
whatever of me I will follow you

through the sunlight and the rain
you're the one who keeps me growing,
I need you here beside me to be complete
and I only want to keep on going

and I don't want to think how I'll begin the morning
when I realize you're gone
can you understand how much I need you?
I want you to know
I'll keep running, running until I see you,
I'll never let go

IF I COULD SEE TOMORROW

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

I have no answers and I won't tell you how
to forget about the future
in a moment far from now,
you keep on thinking about the things we're gonna do,
but it's not so complicated, it's only me and you

you've been looking too far away
but the moment is here, and my vision is clear
I want to be part of you, deep in the heart of you
so hear me when I say

if I could see tomorrow and know the way
then life would be so easy every day,
but it's alright, don't worry about what you don't know
just hold on tight, my baby, and don't let go

oh baby tell me that you understand my song
and the life that you've been wanting
won't have to wait too long,
so just remember, you're not in the game alone
'cause I'll be there right beside you, to lead your way back home

live for the moment, be in the here and the now
you gotta carpe diem baby no matter what you do now
you gotta go with the vision that is guided by light
and don't be thinking about the stresses of the day the night
Don't worry about the future 'cause it's going to work out
because it's you and me together babe that's what it's about
so live for the moment, be in the here and the now
you gotta carpe diem baby no matter what you do now

ANOTHER FACE

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

Something is not the same,
where is the person I used to know?
when did you go? what have you found?
I feel like I'm losing you, there's nothing I can do,
the things that you say seem so far away from me

you're moving alone without any guidance,
the mirror reflecting an image of silence,

until you learn that you cannot escape your mind
I know the truth is some other place,
and when I turn to see the one I want to find
I see another face

when will you let me in?
I need to know what's making you breathe,
make me believe you're still holding on,
this shouldn't be the end, if only you'd comprehend
that I see a light still burning bright inside

NO OTHER WOMAN

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

Stories often begin for her
but never find the right conclusion,
and I only can ask myself,
is this the way that she wants to live?

looking back on a memory we share
I never knew what she was thinking,
only one thing I'm certain of,
she has what no other woman can give

she has what no other woman can give to me,
she sings a different song,
and though I'm not hers, the thoughts in her eyes assure me
she has what no other woman can give to me,
she has what no other woman can give

it only took one day with her
to see a spirit that's impossible to find,
it doesn't take long to realize
she has what no other woman can give

I never found the right words to say,
and I wonder how she let me scare her away
but she's like no other woman,
she has what no other woman can give

THE TIME HAS COME

Words and music by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

The time has come for me to share a secret about you,
I doubt you'd ever expect that I would have the nerve
to say this,
we can't go on denying the atmosphere,
I've been sitting here contemplating whether or not to do it,
I knew it wouldn't be easy but I can't delay this,
'cause there is something happening when you're near

I find myself at night in my bed,
lying awake with thoughts of you in my head,
I'm wishing that your touches could linger around as
much as my body wants them to

the time has come for me to tell you what's on my mind,
and I'm believing that you're not far behind,
I want to feel you next to me,
and the time has come for you to finally comprehend
that I'm dying to be more than just your friend
I want to feel your ectasy

it's hard for me to want to keep relations with you platonic,
I want it everyday with you so much it kills me,
and there is no sense living in denial
I can tell by all the times I've seen you looking at
me so closely,
you're mostly thinking that you could be the one who fills me,
so why don't you come over and stay awhile?

LIGHT YOUR WAY

Music by Michael Itkoff, Daniel Ponce and Dick Smith
Words by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

I watch you falling into emptiness and darker times,
I see this pain caught in your eyes,
so put your hand in mine,
leave your loneliness behind,
and let me love you

when your vision is clouded by fear
and all you taste is the salt of your tears,
you'll walk through darkness before you see the day,
but I will be the fire that lights your way

and now you need someone to lift you to a higher place,
and I will never let you fall,
your hurt will never last,
let my spirit heal your past,
and let me love you

OFF BALANCE

Music by David Weber
Words by Michael Itkoff, Daniel Ponce and David Weber

Maybe I'll wait, don't you know,
for a subtle wind to blow,
it might catch you just off balance,
this could be my only chance,
I'll see you lean a little that way

I'll step on in, catch you slowly,
watch your eyes and hope you know me

I'd never push, I won't intrude,
but if you feel you're in the mood
I'll lift you up and bring you in,
and you'll forget how lonely you have been

maybe you will take a look,
baby don't go by the book,
I can see it in your face
you need some of my embrace,
you'll see me lean a little your way

so come on in, let me make you
you've never been to where I'll take you

I'll never tell you any lies,
never give you sad goodbyes,
I'll wash your lonely tears away,
and baby if you want me, I'll be here to stay

MOONLIGHT

Music based on Piano Sonata Op.27 No.2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Words by Michael Itkoff and Daniel Ponce

I feel the winds blow on my face,
my eyes focus deep into space,
the world is so quiet,
without any complications

I've seen many nights pass me by,
and now I'm wondering why
I haven't achieved all that I had believed
would be part of my life,
tonight I am asking the moonlight

can this be our night?
I feel the stars shine, I'm not alone
I know what I want to be,
I carry this dream with me,
but now I am starting to understand
that I am looking toward the horizon,
will my star be rising soon?

the night seems to heighten my mood,
I treasure this warm solitude,
it's here that my wish will be granted
while stars are falling

it gives me a moment of peace,
some time in my life to release
the longing inside, no emotion can hide
while I'm walking in the moonlight

but dreams fade away,
how can I make mine stay?

Straight No Chaser seniors leaving

This article from the IU SNC days marks an important transition; the last concert for the mentioned five seniors, which included (then Music Director) Ryan and Mike L., and the first concert for the mentioned five new members, which included Seggie and Tyler. #awww

I wonder if the "entertaining video made by an alumnus" was one of those that ended up in the bonus features of the Live at the MAC DVD? I'll have to ask. If I find out for sure, I'll come back and edit this.

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By Jodi Benenson

Indiana Daily Student

May 2, 2003

Although members of Straight No Chaser will carry their a cappella abilities away from IU, Ahlwardt said he feels as if the group has come full circle since he has joined. He said he is confident about the talent that Straight No Chaser will bring to the auditorium tonight and in the future.

New USO Show Troupe to Salute Troops in Korea and Okinawa

PR Newswire
February 28, 2003

"New Vision" -- Eileen Cruz, Heather Jakeman, Robert Johnson and Charlie
Mechling -- will perform a contemporary show called "Freedom Rocks!"
presenting a variety of music from pop to rock. The show will also include
dancing, audience participation and numerous costume changes.