What's a ballad? I've heard people say "oh that's songs a ballad" or "i heard that their new song is a ballad!" so yeah, what's a ballad? :p

it pretty much means a slow song about sincere feelings.

A ballad is a song that tells a story. For Example the theme song of The Beverly Hillbillies is called The Ballad of Jed Clampett because it tells a story during the opening credits.

No question is dumb. ;)

A ballad is a song that tells a story. For Example the theme song of The Beverly Hillbillies is called The Ballad of Jed Clampett because it tells a story during the opening credits.

Yeah, I never really knew about that until I took a music class last semester. The professor told us people usually associate ballads with being slow songs, but they are really story songs.

A ballad is either a song that tells a story or, in more common usage, is a slow song which shows people's passionate feelings, as some have mentioned.
In the 80's there was the power ballad, a soft song by a metal band which showed their sensitive side (generally to attract chicks) yet featured a killer metal guitar solos so the dudes would have something to enjoy as well (so it wouldn't sound so effeminate to say you liked them).

Some classic power ballads include:

Every Rose Has Its Thorn--by Poison
Still Loving You--The Scorpions
Alone Again--Dokken
Headed For a Heartbreak--Winger
Heaven--Warrant
Ballad of Jayne--L.A. Guns
Patience--Guns N' Roses
Something to Believe In--Poison
Sometimes She Cries--Warrant
Don't Cry--Poison
The Ballad--Testament (who played last night in Tacoma)
Don't Close Your Eyes--Kix
Nobody's Fool--Cinderella
Don't Know What You Got Until It's Gone--Cinderella
Home Sweet Home--Motley Crue
Without You--Motley Crue
Wanted Dead or Alive--Bon Jovi
Nothing Else Matters--Metallica
Goodbye to Romance--Ozzy Osbourne
So Tired--Ozzy Osbourne
Is This Love--Whitesnake
Silent Lucidity--Queensryche
To Be With You--Mr. Big
Love Bites--Def Leppard