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Allen Centeno | Better (Album)

BETTER is the second album for the altenative-pop singer/songwriter Allen Centeno. In this album, Allen created electronic beats along with native instruments. Its body of work is by now far from the debut album Touch Ground released in 2015 which was exclusively dark, mellow and acoustic. Although still retaining the sad-cored harmonics, the drum beats, the higher tones and a more pop approach on melodies now drive this album. BETTER as the word itself means progress but for Allen Centeno’s second album, it is also an irony. The singer/songwriter’s new body of work is by now far from the debut album Touch Ground released in 2015 which was exclusively dark, mellow and acoustic.  Although still retaining the sad-cored harmonics, the drum beats, the higher tones and a more pop approach on melodies now drive this album.  Lyrically speaking though, Allen Centeno still hasn’t found the “better” place.  Sadness and pain are still carved on every word of the songs: no improvement on his broken heart.

BETTER is an album best listened to alone with the headphones. The harmonies, the instruments and the vocals seep through the ears and brain, taking the listeners to a two part story. The first half, presented with the intro, tells the story of Allen Centeno’s hardships on growing up into adulthood. The latter, which is introduced by the interlude, is about love, heart-breaks and telling his ex to fuck off.

The album is released along with an official video that depicts the contrast from music and lyrics.  On one scene, Allen is trying hard to keep a smile on his face to fight off the sadness.  On the other, he takes out his heart thinking he would be better off without it.

Allen Centeno, based in Milan, Italy, is an alternative-pop singer/songwriter.  In 2015, he released his first experimental album entitled “Touch Ground”.  His first single “Who Are You?” reached the top 50 on GooglePlay’s most downloaded song in Italy when it was released… and the rest is history.  
Three singles were released to anticipate the album:  Dark Water (2017, a declaration against homophobia, discrimination and racism), How To Forget A Fucker (April 2018, reached +66k streams on Spotify / +12k views on YouTube and counting) and Intoxicated (September 2018, reached +30k streams on Spotify).

Track list:

     1. From The Bones (INTRO)
     2. R.I.P.
     3. These Monsters
     4. Dark Water
     5. Tragedy Boy
     6. Blame Me
     7. Grow Up (interlude)
     8. Ruin/Fuck Up
     9. How To Forget A Fucker
   10. Intoxicated
   11. Rue
   12. Better

www.allencenteno.com

Contact: [email protected]

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Allen Centeno | Intoxicated

The inertia of love is the only thing that makes you go forth even though you know that it is not working anymore…

 

This is Allen Centeno’s “Intoxicated”.  A song about a toxic relationship.  It tells the story of his past relationship where his ex-boyfriend cheats on him on speed dating apps like “Tinder”.  The funny thing was that his ex, even though caught in the act, thought cheating didn’t mean anything and couldn’t even realize that what he was doing was hurtful and was destroying Allen’s trust for him.

Maybe out of being a martyr, out of love or just out of mere stupidity, even after all the lies, Allen, frustrated, angry but so in love, couldn’t let go of him.  This track is the prelude of the second single “How To Forget A Fucker” where the story revolves on the difficulty on how to get over an ex even though that person broke your heart into million pieces.

 

Here are the lyrics:

Intoxicated

1.

You used to bring so much love at making me feel nice

That kind of lust was so awesome you’re making me feel right

Now you’re intoxicating, yeah

You were so blind you couldn’t see what was missing in my life

Mouth was so dry you couldn’t kiss me right, left me hanging on my side

Now you’re intoxicating, yeah

 

Chorus

You made me see what was lacking in me

You feed me poison so I can’t escape the trap that you built

I’m not naive, bitch, don’t call me “baby”

Just keep your Tinder on and maybe you’ll find just what you need

What’s up with me? I can’t seem to break free

Intoxicating, suffocating, gosh, you’re hurting my brain

Hey

 

2.

You think that I’m privileged ’cause you’re staying by my side

Like the hundred boys that you’re fucking then you look into my eyes

Now I’m intoxicated, yeah

You sound so dumb you’re so convinced what you did wasn’t so bad

But I guess that I’m just stupid I’m still falling for your lies

Now I’m intoxicated, yeah

 

Chorus

You made me see what was lacking in me

You feed me poison so I can’t escape the trap that you built

I’m not naive, bitch, don’t call me “baby”

Just keep your Tinder on and maybe you’ll find just what you need

What’s up with me? I can’t seem to break free

Intoxicating, suffocating, gosh, you’re hurting my brain

Hey

 

3.

You used to bring so much love at making me feel nice

That kind of lust was so awesome you’re making me right

Now you’re intoxicating, yeah

 

Chorus

You made me see what was lacking in me

You feed me poison so I can’t escape the trap that you built

I’m not naive, bitch, don’t call me “baby”

Just keep your Tinder on and maybe you’ll find just what you need

What’s up with me? I can’t seem to break free

Intoxicating, suffocating, gosh, you’re hurting my brain

Hey

 

 

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Allen Centeno | How To Forget A Fucker

Allen Centeno – How To Forget A Fucker

This is a song about a break-up, a broken heart…

But this is not your typical heart-break song.  I did not intend to show that I got my heart pierced, slashed and shattered then heal, be happy and move on.  No.  That’s the typical bullshit.

This song shows how I was suffering and hurting and not being able to get up and cease to be stronger.  The agony of love is not like any other.  When you lose someone you love, either real or metaphorical death, it scars your very existence.  You fail to see what’s good about anything.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.  Perhaps, it’s true in many cases.  Sometimes, though, what doesn’t kill you makes you suffer for a very long time.

 

“How To Forget A Fucker”

(verse 1)

I thought that staying with you could be so damn cool

You’ve given me up

You said you would not let me down but still, I’m on the ground

Stuck in the mud

(hook)

I wanted to forget the pain

And I’ve been looking for creative ways to fuck up this game

Been hoping to find who’s to blame

While I’ve been hurting for a decade just to forget your name

Fucker

(verse 2)

You said you would not get away; that you’d stay in the flames

But you let me burn

Just like when you fucked up my world ‘cause you were getting so bored

I should have known

(hook)

I wanted to forget the pain

And I’ve been looking for creative ways to fuck up this game

Been hoping to find who’s to blame

While I’ve been hurting for a decade just to forget your name

Fucker

(bridge)

I’ve been hurting myself just to forget your face

I’ve been standing alone just to learn my mistake

(pre-hook)

I wanted to forget the pain

And I’ve been looking for creative ways to fuck up this game

(hook)

I wanted to forget the pain

And I’ve been looking for creative ways to fuck up this game

Been hoping to find who’s to blame

While I’ve been hurting for a decade just to forget your name

Fucker

(outro)

Been hoping to find who’s to blame

While I’ve been hurting for a decade just to forget your name

Fucker

 

P & C 2018 Allen Edward Centeno

Written & Produced by Allen Centeno
Mixed & Mastered by Dyo Studio

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Allen Centeno | Dark Water

allen centeno dark water

Dark Water is a declaration of war against racism, homophobia, and discrimination.

This track is about discrimination, homophobia, and racism that I experienced directly on my skin. In the video, there are several “masks” that represent all of the above: the black veil, the nose piercing with the chain as an accessory to alter my appearance, my head cut from the view from the shot and my back turned to the camera. These “masks” are the metaphors to what I have to “wear” before I face the society. Being an Asian with dark skin, gay and even being a musician has brought me to undergo unpleasant situation at job interviews, at dating, and in everyday life. But writing this song made me realize to not care about all these useless things and be who I am and also not be afraid of my imperfections.

Here’s the lyrics!

“Dark Water”

1.

You will never see what’s my worth

‘Cause I drink dark water

To darken up my heart and my thoughts

And I’ve been waiting for, for you to clean me, oh

Once upon a time I had thought

That colors didn’t matter

Then I opened up my eyes and I saw

The better that you get the more they’ll drag you down

Chorus:

You make me sick

Let’s make it quick No talking shit

My brain’s got glitch

And you’re a bitch

And I’m just drinking Dark water

Oh you keep telling me I’m not gonna go high

I can’t help thinking you’re the one pulling me down

2.

You don’t even seem to partake

On the conversations in your head

To comprehend the thoughts that you make

And I’m afraid of dispersions of your shit

Chorus

Bridge:

Down, you make me

Frown, ain’t got no

Time for your fucking

Sound…

You will never see what’s my worth

‘Cause I drink dark water

To darken up my heart and my thoughts

‘Cause I’ve been waiting for, for you to clean me, oh

Chorus

 

(C) 2017 Allen Edward Centeno

Written and produced by Allen Centeno

 

Stream and download: https://ffm.to/darkwater

 

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Allen Centeno | Bravery

Allen Centeno - Bravery

Allen Centeno – Bravery

Humans have a funny way of living.

We get our hearts broken, shattered, stepped on and the list can go on forever but still, we still manage to get up and start again.

Bravery is about giving in to love again after a heart break.  It is a declaration of courage and of hope on people despite the hardships in life.

The video was shot in an ex-asylum in Milan, Italy by Paolo Montemurro and featuring Jennifer Radano as the beautiful fairy and the mean bitch.  The glass heart represents Allen’s heart.  It was shattered but became whole again.

Bravery

Look at me and listen
I would bleed if you left me here

Suddenly, you have reached
The deepest feeling I kept in heed

Oh, my heart’s been broken many times now
But it’s whole again for you
Though my hands are dirty with blood and tears
You didn’t keep your distance from me

I cannot breathe without you
But I still deny this truth to myself
‘Cause in the end I’ll be hurt
The fuck who cares, it’ll be worth a wound

Oh, my heart’s been broken many times now
But it’s whole again for you
Though my hands are dirty with blood and tears
You didn’t keep your distance from me

So afraid to be hurt
But you just washed away all my fears
Your bravery pushed me to
Forget this shit and live life again

Oh, my heart’s been broken many times now
But it’s whole again for you
Though my hands are dirty with blood and tears
You didn’t keep your distance from me
Oh, my heart’s been broken many times now
But it’s whole again for you
Though my hands are dirty with blood and tears
You didn’t keep your distance from me

You can also check out my whole album on iTunes, GooglePlay and Spotify.

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Allen Centeno | Touch Ground

Allen Centeno - Touch Ground

Allen Centeno – Touch Ground

“I got 99 problems and bitch ain’t one.”

Touch Ground is the second single released as the album presentation. It’s actually the same title of the record.

This track is written based on life problems and frustrations. Allen absorbed his best friend’s period of emotional suffering and combined it with his. The final result is this devastatinly emotional but at the same time catchy tune perfect for your sad moments.

The background music on this page is entitled Dreams which is an interlude in the album and an intro to the song.

 

Touch Ground

I’d turn the lights out
I’d pull the trigger in my mouth
So fucked up until now
I’d go away but I’m happy here somehow
Running away won’t stop this hurt
Why do you keep on coming
When all you do is burn me down
I cannot keep on falling
‘Cause all I do is touch the ground
I’d face my demons
But I’m scared they would hurt me so bad
So caught in the darkness
But the light will overpower somehow
Running away won’t cease the pain
Why do you keep on coming
When all you do is burn me down
I cannot keep on falling
‘Cause all I do is touch the ground
It’s time to give up
But I know I’m stronger than this shit
Why do you keep on coming
When all you do is burn me down
I cannot keep on falling
‘Cause all I do is touch the ground
Why do you keep on coming
When all you do is burn me down
I cannot keep on falling
‘Cause all I do is touch the ground
Download the track here:
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Allen Centeno | Who Are You?

Allen Centeno - Who Are You?

Allen Centeno – Who Are You?

Who Are You? Allen’s very first single released in January 2015.

This was his introduction to world and the title was on point for presenting or just anticipating people if ever they asked who he is.


The song was also released on YouTube as a some sort of a lyric video. He and his team chose to include the lyrics also to cover up the weird shit happening in the video. Yes, it is weird.  But it was fun shooting it and it turns out be a simple weird video.  It’s also the first song in his debut album Touch Ground that came out three months later that year.

This song is basically about a one night stand that became a 2 year long relationship.  It’s a relationship that he regrets having because it was full of lies but it was an experience that he won’t forget.

Here are the lyrics:

Who Are You?

I am the one
To desire you
To be with me

But you were the one
Who made me
Feel so damn good

But who are you
Touching me like this
As if I’m yours

Who are you
Owning my body
I feel so damn good

This doesn’t feel
The right thing
I should be doing

But your blue eyes
Are like a trap
Swallow me down

But who are you
Touching me like this
As if I’m yours

Who are you
Owning my body
I feel so damn good

Is there a way
To get me out
From this madness
I am playing

But who are you
Touching me like this
As if I’m yours

Who are you
Owning my body
I feel so damn good

Who are you
Owning my body
I feel so damn good

You can download this track for free here!
You can also check out my whole album on iTunes, GooglePlay and Spotify.