AKB48 25th Single [GIVE ME FIVE] Covers + Baby Blossom

Yesterday on January 22nd at the AKB48 Request hour 2012 concert, you saw AKB48 perform a live band version of their upcoming 25th single [GIVE ME FIVE!].

The band, created just for GIVE ME FIVE! , is named [Baby Blossom]. Except for a few, most of them do not have prior experience playing instruments. They have been training in secret for the past 5 months to prepare for their first performance yesterday

Lead Guitar: Takahashi Minami
Rhythm Guitar: Maeda Atsuko
Bass: Oshima Yuko
Drum: Kashiwagi Yuki
Keyboards: Kojima Haruna, Watanabe Mayu
Trumpets: Yokoyama Yui, Matsui Rena
Trombone: Sashihara Rino, Minegishi Minami
Percussion: Matsui Jurina, Shinoda Mariko, Itano Tomomi
Backing Vocals: Miyazawa Sae, Kitahara Rie, Takajo Aki, Kasai Tomomi, Yamamoto Sayaka

This is not the first time AKB48 has played their own instruments for their songs. Well not exactly.
the song [Tomo yo] from Team K's 3rd Stage was performed with a live band too, and [Idol no Yoake] from Team B's 4th Stage was performed à la marching band.

Currently there is no word if GIVE ME FIVE! will be performed with a live band at all their performances.



And today, the covers of GIVE ME FIVE! have been unveiled and the members are seen in their Baby Blossom persona. The monochromic members on a contrasting colored background gives the covers a retro rock 'n' roll feel.

Check out the covers below! You can click the images to see them at their full size.


AKB48 25th Single
GIVE ME FIVE!
15 February 2012

TYPE A [Limited] Type A [Regular] 1,600yen	[CD] 01. GIVE ME FIVE! 02. Sweet & Bitter (Selection 6) 03. NEW SHIP (Special Girls A) 04. GIVE ME FIVE! off vocal ver. 05. Sweet & Bitter off vocal ver. 06. NEW SHIP off vocal ver. [DVD] 01. GIVE ME FIVE! Music Video 02. Sweet & Bitter Music Video 03. NEW SHIP Music Video 04. GIVE ME FIVE! Making part 1 05. Beautiful MIX Lecture
TYPE B [Limited] Type B [Regular] 1,600yen	[CD] 01. GIVE ME FIVE! 02. Sweet & Bitter (Selection 6) 03. Hitsujikai no Tabi (Special Girls B) 04. GIVE ME FIVE! off vocal ver. 05. Sweet & Bitter off vocal ver. 06. Hitsujikai no Tabi off vocal ver [DVD] 01. GIVE ME FIVE! Music Video 02. Sweet & Bitter Music Video 03. Hitsujikai no Tabi Music Video 04. GIVE ME FIVE! Making part 2 05. Beautiful Overture & Encore Lecture
Theater Edition 1,000yen	01. GIVE ME FIVE! 02. Sweet and Bitter (Selection6) 03. Jung ya Freud no Baai (Special Girls C) 04. GIVE ME FIVE! off vocal. 05. Sweet and Bitter off vocal. 06. Jung ya Freud no Baai off vocal.

Senbatsu - GIVE ME FIVE!
Team A: Kojima Haruna, Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takajo Aki, Takahashi Minami, Maeda Atsuko
Team K: Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Yokoyama Yui
Team B: Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Watanabe Mayu
SKE48 Team S: Matsui Jurina, Matsui Rena
NMB48 Team N: Yamamoto Sayaka

Selection 6 - Sweet & Bitter (スイート＆ビター)
Team A: Sashihara Rino, Shinoda Mariko, Takahashi Minami, Maeda Atsuko
Team K: Itano Tomomi, Oshima Yuko

Special Girls A - NEW SHIP
Team B: Sato Sumire
Team 4: Ichikawa Miori, Iriyama Anna, Shimazaki Haruka, Yamauchi Suzuran
Kenkyuusei: Iwata Karen, Kato Rena, Kawaei Rina, Takahashi Juri, Tano Yuka
SKE48 Team S: Kizaki Yuria, Matsui Jurina
SKE48 Team E: Kimoto Kanon
NMB48 Team N: Watanabe Miyuki
HKT48: Kodama Haruka
JKT48: Melody Nurramdhani Laksani

Special Girls B - Hitsujikai no Tabi (羊飼いの旅)
Team A: Iwasa Misaki, Ota Aika, Katayama Haruka, Kuramochi Asuka, Kojima Haruna, Takajo Aki
Team K: Akimoto Sayaka, Umeda Ayaka, Kikuchi Ayaka, Fujie Reina, Matsui Sakiko, Minegishi Minami, Miyazawa Sae, Yokoyama Yui
Team B: Kasai Tomomi, Kashiwagi Yuki, Kitahara Rie, Sato Amina, Masuda Yuka, Watanabe Mayu
Team 4: Shimada Haruka, Nagao Mariya
SKE48 Team S: Matsui Rena
SKE48 Team KII: Takayanagi Akane