Gabians is a regional slang term for "seagulls," primarily used in the South of France, particularly around Marseille. It's a unique and evocative word that immediately grounds the song in a specific geographical and cultural context.
In the lyrics, Keny Arkana sings, "J'm'endors aux cris des bagarres de rues Et m'lève aux chants des gabians" (I fall asleep to the cries of street fights And wake up to the songs of the seagulls). This contrast between the harsh reality of street life and the natural, almost poetic sound of the gabians highlights the artist's deep connection to her environment and adds a layer of authenticity to her narrative.
“Comme Un Aimant” (Like a Magnet) pulls us straight into the heart of Keny Arkana’s Marseille streets. She paints the restless life of a kid who grew up outside, carried the neighborhood in her skin, and felt its tug wherever she roamed. Each line flickers between memories of lost friends, rooftop dreams, and the roar of late-night sirens. Arkana moves like a traveler with a wounded soul: suspicious of the world, yet clutching “gold in the heart,” forever drawn back to the concrete playground that shaped her.
The chorus repeats like a heartbeat, reminding us how powerful that magnetic force is. It drags her toward smoke-filled nights, clashes with police, and moments when rage meets camaraderie. Still, hope sparks amid the ruins: she races headfirst, no helmet, smiling in the wind, refusing to let injustice have the last word. The song is a raw diary of urban survival, grief, and fierce loyalty—a reminder that even when life spins between “too much” and “nothingness,” the human spirit keeps gravitating toward belonging and rebellion.