Bebe Buell, the mother of Liv Tyler, was a huge supermodel back in the 70's. She dated many rock stars such as Bowie, Iggy, Steven Tyler (obviously) and Todd Rundgren, who raised Liv as his own. Anyway, in her book "Rebel Heart" from 2001, she speaks about how Prince wrote "Little Red Corvette" about her. She said that P actually names check her in the lyric "Bebe, you're much too fast". And how Elvis Costello became jealous and thought that Bebe and P were having an affair. She denied this, but he countered with "Well, why does he sing your name in the song?" When I read this in her book, I thought "Wow, I always thought he sang "Baby, you're much too fast". Although I had always noticed that he does say "Baby" somewhat funny. I always thought he was just doing it for an effect. If u listen, he does say "Bebe" and not "baby". Don't know how many already knew this or read her book. But for those who haven't; homework assignment! Seriously, who out there was already hip to this? I've been hip since her book came out.

blackguitaristz said:

Didn't have a clue...

Prince was a bad boy!!!

Playa for real...

I love Bebe Buell to death, really I do - she's a really sweet lady - but sometimes I think ol' girl has a little too much time on her hands.

I"m sorry, but Bebe's delusion that Prince says her name in LRC is laughable. I've listened closely to that song countless times -- and he says "BAY-bay", *not* "BEE-bee". Prince had never even MET her when he wrote that song, and there's just no reason to even remotely think he was namechecking her -- except in her own attention-craving mind.

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[Edited 8/29/05 15:36pm]

it sure doesn't say "bebe" on the lyrics sheet, does it?

heck, tina weymouth pronounces "baby" as "bebe" in the tom tom club song "dark sneak love action"...maybe there's something she hasn't been telling chris franz!??

It does sounds like he's sayin' Bebe. I always said Bebe. I just think Prince was tryin' 2 B fancy with the word Baby. I dont think there was a name connection.

MrsJimmyFallon said:

I thought a lot of the same thing at first, when I read the book. "Oh, this chick, she just has a thing for P. Wishing that he mentions her in a song that she loves." BUT, to me, especially on the first chorus, it had ALWAYS sounded like, to me, that he pronounced "baby" "bee-bee". And I'm talking about when the song was first released. So, when I read her book, and I see this section devoted to this, I was like "Yeah, well, I always wondered why P pronounced "baby" that way." Now, I agree withcha on all of the other choruses that P does pronounce "baby" as "bay-bay", but not on the first chorus. He says "bee-bee". I know this shit is funny, that's the main reason I wrote the thread. But, really. Check out the first chorus. Maybe she wasn't trippin'. Hell, Elvis Costello swears by this and he's a great writer.

Perhaps she had a guilty conscience when she heard the song cuz she slept with so many guys

blackguitaristz said:

Delusions from a skank groupie...

Neversin.

Rinluv said:

That's exactly what I'm saying. Especially on the first chorus. Finally, somebody on here admits to hearing it. How could u not hear it there?

blackguitaristz said:

well yeah, it sounds like he's saying "beh-beh" instead of BAY-BEE, but so what? heck, if we read stuff into how singers pronounce things, joey ramone woulda been the freakin' da vinci code.

Don't the liner notes to the Hits say Prince wrote the song driving around LA with Lisa, writing verses between catnaps?

Anxiety said:

That's true. I just thought it was interesting that someone who had been around and as long as Bebe, would think it was about her, along with Costello. Hell, I wouldn't put anything past P. He knows his rock history.

I thought this was common knowledge for years.

BananaCologne said:

I didn't get hip to it untill 2001, when I read Bebe's book.

blackguitaristz said:

Wasn't a slight, just I thought it was indeed common knowledge.

RodeoSchro said:

It still could've been about Bebe. I don't know if this is true or not but it makes sense.

BananaCologne said:

No, no. I feel ya. I didn't take it as such.

whodknee said:

Sure it does. I could easily see him having a thing for Bebe. They may have even had a fling. Who knows? If P had a fling with Stevie Nicks, why not with Bebe? She was Todd Rundgren's ole lady who was one of P's childhood heroes. One of Todd's best cuts is called "International Feel". Replace that with "Lover" and include it on the same album as "Little Red". I don't put shit past Prince.

blackguitaristz said:

Cool!

What I want to know is how does Elvis Costello get to bang these chicks? Bebe (though she was kinda easy) and now Diana Krall. I don't think he's ever been considered a sex symobl. Whatever it is, he needs to bottle and market that s**t....

I'd be first in line

JesseDezz said:

Its called talent...Women don't get more wet for anything.

Kinda like when Angela Bowie claimed the Stone's "Angie" was about her

I read that book! I don't remember that part though. I'm not saying I don't belive you I'm just amazed I don't remember it! I thought it was a song about some girl that worked for Warners in the PR department...or that is what I read in one of his biographies.