variants
or B side
plural B-sides or B sides
1
: the reverse side of a phonograph record : flip side
The B-side of the album features a 12-minute instrumental piece …—
Quinn Moreland
Quinn Moreland2
: a recorded song (such as a remix or a previous outtake) that accompanies the lead selection on a single (see single entry 2 sense 1c(2)) or EP
The highly promoted single … will be backed with two B sides: a live gospel version of "One More Try" … and an instrumental version of "Older"…—The Boston Herald
The Boston Herald"I Promise" is yet another reminder that the songs Radiohead leaves off its albums are often just as good as the ones that make it on. … So why has the band still not put out a compilation of B-sides and rarities?—Zach Schonfeld
Zach Schonfeld
often, specifically
: such a song on the flip side of a record
The song ["I Saw Her Standing There"] … was chosen as the B side for the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" single that topped the charts in America. —Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone Examples of B-side in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Tortured Poets Department, a new beef-sizzling new track from Drake, and a mystical Hozier B-side.
—Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
This week, Shakira returns with a dazzling LP, Olivia Rodrigo spills Guts B-sides, and longtime collaborators Future and Metro Boomin team up for their first full-length project.
—Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024
This was a shift from the music that had filled the house until that point, the days when all my daughter listened to was the Beatles—every album, every B-side, every BBC recording—over and over again.
—TIME, 5 Mar. 2024
This week, Cardi B returns with her first single of 2024, Miley Cyrus delivers a salve with a funky Bangerz B-side, and Charli XCX is at the top of her game in glitzy new track.
—Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
On the record’s B-side, the aforementioned musicians, plus David Bowie and Paul McCartney, talk about famine, wish people a happy Christmas, and urge donation.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024
This nomination, however, is pitched at those who favor B-sides and Rarities.
—Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
This month, Concord Records celebrated the milestone with a new deluxe edition of Violent Femmes as a double CD or three-LP boxed set with B-sides, demos and live tracks.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 29 Dec. 2023
On the commercial version, the B-side is simply an instrumental version of the track (as was typical during this period).
—Will Hodge, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2023
Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
This week, Shakira returns with a dazzling LP, Olivia Rodrigo spills Guts B-sides, and longtime collaborators Future and Metro Boomin team up for their first full-length project.
—Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024
This was a shift from the music that had filled the house until that point, the days when all my daughter listened to was the Beatles—every album, every B-side, every BBC recording—over and over again.
—TIME, 5 Mar. 2024
This week, Cardi B returns with her first single of 2024, Miley Cyrus delivers a salve with a funky Bangerz B-side, and Charli XCX is at the top of her game in glitzy new track.
—Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
On the record’s B-side, the aforementioned musicians, plus David Bowie and Paul McCartney, talk about famine, wish people a happy Christmas, and urge donation.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024
This nomination, however, is pitched at those who favor B-sides and Rarities.
—Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
This month, Concord Records celebrated the milestone with a new deluxe edition of Violent Femmes as a double CD or three-LP boxed set with B-sides, demos and live tracks.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 29 Dec. 2023
On the commercial version, the B-side is simply an instrumental version of the track (as was typical during this period).
—Will Hodge, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'B-side.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“B-side.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/B-side. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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