Faced with the same situation her old “Telephone” buddy Lady Gaga just experienced when “Judas” leaked ahead of schedule, today Beyoncé released her new single, “Run The World (Girls)” after an unfinished version became the talk of the Interweb on Monday.

“Run The World (Girls)” is the first single from Beyoncé’s as-yet-untitled fourth studio album. Written by Terius Nash (The-Dream) and Beyoncé, the estrogen-fueled anthem was produced by Switch (half of Major Laser, whose “Pon de Floor” the song samples), with additional production by Beyoncé and Shea Taylor.

Judging the song based on a low-quality, unmixed leak, I felt it was a tuneless mess, but the single version is a major improvement. It’s still nowhere near as melodic as I would have liked for Beyoncé’s first at-bat from her latest project, and neither the female-empowerment message or marching-band beat are new for her. But “Run The World (Girls)” still manages to sound like nothing else on the charts right now, a track best heard as the sound of a pop diva confidently announcing her return, putting all chart contemporaries on notice. Best bring up your game if you wanna play in the big leagues with B.

“Run The World (Girls)” takes whatever the female equivalent of cojones are to pull off, particularly with its deficiencies in the singalong department. But Beyoncé delivers the fire, and like it or not, she will not be ignored. Who run this motha?

Purchase Beyoncé – “Run The World (Girls)” via iTunes.