Beyoncé has premiered the music video for “Countdown,” the third official single from 4. It follows first single, “Run The World (Girls),” which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, and follow-up ballad “Best Thing I Never Had,” which made it to #16.

Mama-to-be Beyoncé certainly looks fantastic in the colorful “Countdown” clip, with ’60s-era looks reminiscent of wide-eyed Twiggy, turtleneck-clad Audrey Hepburn, and a hair flip once rocked by Diana Ross, but the track itself is supremely lacking in the melody department.

Featuring blasts of marching-band horns and quick-step beats, the production is much too frenzied. Besides the song’s actual countdown, which is inventive, there’s precious little for the listener to hang onto, and more importantly, to sing along to. I can’t imagine that “Countdown” is the number that will bring Queen B back to the Top 10.

Tell me again why the Prince-tastic “Schoolin’ Life” was relegated to the deluxe edition of 4 ? That track could have been a real contender. Instead, I’ll throw a vote toward “I Care” as 4‘s single #4.

Purchase Beyoncé – “Countdown” via iTunes.