ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

A-side and B-side

Imagine you have a favorite food, like pizza. Now imagine you have two slices of pizza, one on each side. The first slice you eat is the A-side and the second slice is the B-side.

In music, a single record or CD typically has two sides as well, just like your pizza. The A-side is usually the main or popular song that the artist wants you to hear first. This is like the first slice of pizza that you would eat because it’s the one you’re most excited about.

The B-side is usually a lesser-known song that the artist wants you to hear as well. This is like the second slice of pizza because it’s not the one you were immediately drawn to but it’s still there and can be enjoyed just as much.

Back in the olden days, when people listened to music on vinyl records, they had to physically flip the record over to hear the B-side. Nowadays with digital music, you can easily listen to both sides without having to flip anything.

So remember, just like your pizza has two slices, music often has an A-side and a B-side that are both worth listening to.