Toni Garrido’s solution after controversy over changing the lyrics of ‘Girassol’

In early October, Toni Garrido proposed a change in the lyrics “Sunflower”from Dark City. The vocalist stated that he considered that one of the song’s original verses would be “straight, sexist, top, horrible.”

The suggestion was not very well accepted by the public, who did not see sexism in the song. However, the artist seems to have found a middle ground as a solution.

During performance at the festival Brazilian classicscarried out in Rio de Janeiro last weekend, Toni Garrido sang “Sunflower” in two ways:

• first, with the original verse;
• later, with the adaptation he initially suggested in the program High Hoursfrom the TV Globo.

Original verse:

“The truth proves that time is the master of two destinies, of two destinies; Since, to be a man, you have to have the greatness of a boy, a boy”

Adapted version:

“The truth proves that time is the master of two destinies, of two destinies; Since, to be a man, you have to have the greatness of a girl, a woman”

See below.

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A post shared by I’ve Got More Records Than Friends! (@tmdqa)

Toni Garrido, Cidade Negra and “Girassol”

During participation in the High HoursToni Garrido explained that, after years, he had the feeling that “Sunflower” it sounded “macho”. Therefore, he proposed an adaptation in the lyrics and said:

“We have a song, ‘Sunflower’which we sang for years, and I was sure that I was singing a right love song, that it was good for people. After 25 years, one day it hit… the song was: ‘The truth proves that time is the master of both destinies, of both destinies; Since, to be a man, you have to have the greatness of a boy, a boy’. Straight, sexist, top, horrible.”

According to him, the final section, which talks about “having the greatness of a boy” and repeats “of a boy”, would be modified to mention “girl” and “woman”.

A video with a passage from the TV show went viral on social media. The repercussion was mostly negative, as the public did not see sexism in the original lyrics.

Toni Garrido: “after 25 years of singing the song, one day it hit me…the top straight, sexist, horrible lyrics..”

He changed Girassol’s lyrics from “Since, to be a man, you have to have the greatness of a boy” to “that of a girl, a woman”.

Did you need it? 😬 #AltasHoras pic.twitter.com/NQsGwLUHZM

— Tiago Pereira (@Tiagupereira) October 5, 2025

Explanation

Faced with the controversy, Toni Garrido turned to social media to speak out again about the change. The artist made it clear that the public can sing the lyrics however they prefer and assured that he only wanted to pay homage to the female audience.

Initially, he stated:

“Guys, how curious the polarization of words. From something so simple and within so many incredible things, we see a huge discussion because of the semantics, the understanding of these words. In reality, a change, a word. People can sing however they want, they know the song in a certain way. ‘Since to be a man you have to have the greatness of a boy’. I’m very happy that they like this and that they sing the song in this way. Who am I to tell you if you can sing or not sing the way you want?! Art is free.”

He then added:

“In my understanding, in my loving play I wanted to honor women. Every great man has the greatness of a father and a mother. And of a boy too, poetically speaking. I really wanted to say that every great man has behind him, or in front of him, or next to him a great woman. And we don’t talk about that much. So, that’s why I say here that ‘since to be a man you have to have the greatness of a woman’. Which is the mother, the person who takes care of him, or his sister, or any feminine element… That guides him and that gives sensitivity, a balance, to his personality so that he can be a dear, nice, nice human being. That’s all. Stay at peace and with lots of love in your hearts!”

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