Video Premiere: Does Beyoncé "Run The World"?

I'll be honest; I really do enjoy Beyoncé's new single "Run The World (Girls)", even though at its core its Major Lazer's "Pon De Floor" with lyrics (ironically, he performed at my school Trinity College's Spring Weekend in April).

The single has had a disappointing chart performance since its release, debuting and peaking at a shockingly low #33 (for context, Christina's "Not Myself Tonight" debuted at #23). As of Tuesday, it slipped as low as #180 on iTunes. In simpler terms, Beyoncé was gearing up for her first real, epic flop.

Thankfully (and finally), Beyoncé and her team released the much-anticipated video, which was proceeded by a bunch of teasers that didn't really do anything for her. Much of the video debuted on American Idol, where she was also mentoring for the week. It follows a trend started by judge Jennifer Lopez and her video for "On The Floor", the results of that are still being seen on the iTunes chart. It was a smart move for the diva, who has done promotion so far that makes Britney Spears look like she's breaking her back working.

So, what about the video?

It's directed by Nicholas Lawrence, the brainchild behind Lady Gaga's epic "Bad Romance", and features the megadiva fighting a righteous battle in the desert somewhere. It's the classic battle of the sexes, except with a lot more couture, and animals. Just like other Lawrence videos of late, its visually striking, and Beyoncé has never looked more show-stoppingly gorgeous as she reveals her dark and wild side (well, as much as Beyoncé ever would) to the masses. The choreography is an absolute killer; any doubts about her abilities as a dancer should and must be squashed with this video. Frankly, not much else is going on, but when you're Beyoncé, what more do you need?

With the poor chart performance of the single (which is improving on the video's release), it may not seem like Beyoncé is running the world, but the clip is proof that the pop throne is just waiting for her to sit on it.