We’re not sure anyone was asking to hear Timbaland singing on his own tracks. But he’s the most influential producer of the decade and he can do as he damn well pleases. Tim shows off his (AutoTuned) pipes on “If We Ever Meet Again,” the new UK single off his Shock Value II. His chosen duet partner? Katy Perry, who has at least traded up since her last “featured” appearance. Now the video’s out, and we have to say: it’s a little convoluted, and contains fewer costume changes than Katy typically runs through during breakfast. See and hear Tim below.

Timbaland feat. Katy Perry – “If We Ever Meet Again”

The chorus is perfect for huge crowd sing-a-longs, and we’ll probably have to bash our heads against the wall a couple hundred times to get it out of of our brain. (In other words, it’s standard-issue Tim.) As for the Paul Allen-direct video, we’re having a hard time following the jewel thief story, or how it has anything to do with the lyrics.

Timbaland previously told MTV that he wanted the video for his Perry duet to be “something deep”:

“I don’t know if I wanna make it like a relationship. I wanna make it like she saved my life with whatever depression I was going through, whether it be drug depression, weight-loss depression — something. … Will she be around if I go through this again?”

Not sure we picked that up here. We did get a four-minute version of The Thomas Crown Affair.