Beyonce is back with yet another girl-power anthem, “Run the World (Girls).” The video premiered in part on Wednesday’s episode of “American Idol,” just a week after judge Steven Tyler used the show as a video launchpad, too.
The singer shows off some serious shoulder work in the full-length version, directed by Francis Lawrence. Filmed in Africa, the vid presents the super-blonde Beyonce as the leader of an army of gorgeous women. She reminds a rag-tag group of unimpressed men of just what women are capable of – she praises college graduates and chicks who are “strong enough to bear the children then get back to business.”
Though “Run the World” is elaborate and showy, leaving the bare-bones world of “Single Ladies” behind, it has a similar effect because of the fresh and strong choreography. There is no doubt about who is boss in this particular clip.
The track is the lead single off of Beyonce’s upcoming album “4.” “It’s definitely riskier than something a bit more … simple,” she tells MTV. “I just heard the track and loved that it was so different. It felt a bit African, a bit electronic and futuristic. It reminded me of what I love, which is mixing different cultures and eras — things that typically don’t go together — to create a new sound. I can never be safe; I always try and go against the grain. As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal,” she said. “That’s how I’ve gotten to where I am.”
