Madonna attempts comeback surrounded by holograms of herself at Billboard Awards

All the bells and whistles in the world cannot save an underwhelming performance.

And Madonna demonstrated as much this Wednesday when she took the stage with holograms of herself at the Billboard Music Awards.

She and singer-songwriter Maluma gave a rendition of their bilingual new single Medellin, which is named after his hometown in Colombia.

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Double-act: Madonna and singer-songwriter Maluma gave a rendition of their bilingual new single Medellin at Wednesday's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas

Double-act: Madonna and singer-songwriter Maluma gave a rendition of their bilingual new single Medellin at Wednesday's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas

Oh, what a circus: Madonna underwhelmed this Wednesday when she took the stage with holograms of herself at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

Oh, what a circus: Madonna underwhelmed this Wednesday when she took the stage with holograms of herself at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

Each hologram was wearing one of the costumes Madonna modeled in the music video for Medellin that premiered on YouTube exactly a week before. 

Wednesday's performance began with Madonna wearing an eye-patch and lying solo in front of some nature videos, beneath a canopy meant to resemble trees.

As she sang her portion of the song, holograms of her materialized on either side of the Material Girl, only to quickly vanish in puffs of smoke.

Maluma appeared onstage in front of an urban backdrop, with musicians playing in the upstairs windows of the 'buildings' behind him.

Theme: Each hologram was wearing one of the costumes Madonna modeled in the music video for Medellin, which premiered on YouTube exactly a week before

Theme: Each hologram was wearing one of the costumes Madonna modeled in the music video for Medellin, which premiered on YouTube exactly a week before

Bells and whistles: The performance began with Madonna wearing an eye-patch and singing solo in front of some nature videos, beneath a canopy meant to resemble trees

Bells and whistles: The performance began with Madonna wearing an eye-patch and singing solo in front of some nature videos, beneath a canopy meant to resemble trees

Company: As she sang her portion of the song, holograms of her materialized on either side of her, only to quickly vanish in puffs of smoke

Company: As she sang her portion of the song, holograms of her materialized on either side of her, only to quickly vanish in puffs of smoke

The hunky 25-year-old born Juan Luis Londoño Aria shook a leg for the audience in the company of another set of Madonna holograms.

Madonna herself burst through one of the doors and hoofed it around the stage with Maluma, before he took a step back and leaned against the backdrop. 

As Maluma watched, fake hail fell on Madonna and she was accompanied by a phalanx of holograms who danced with her for the crowd.

Maluma and Madonna's performance included yet another setpiece - this one a swanky dance hall where flesh-and-blood backup dancers joined the holograms.

Dashing: The hunky 25-year-old born Juan Luis Londoño Aria shook a leg for the audience in the company of another set of Madonna holograms

Dashing: The hunky 25-year-old born Juan Luis Londoño Aria shook a leg for the audience in the company of another set of Madonna holograms

Eye-popping: As Maluma watched, fake hail fell on Madonna and she was accompanied by a phalanx of holograms who danced with her for the crowd

Eye-popping: As Maluma watched, fake hail fell on Madonna and she was accompanied by a phalanx of holograms who danced with her for the crowd

As the duo ventured out into the audience, a couple of hologram Madonnas exploded via fireworks into a platform and began dancing.

Shortly after Madonna and Maluma made their own way up onto that platform, the holograms exploded into kaleidoscopes of red butterflies.

The two singers embraced at the end of their performance, and as Madonna thanked the audience Maluma gave her a steamy kiss on the neck.

Twitter provided some rather barbed responses to the show - one user wrote: 'All of us watching Madonna...' over a GIF of Chrissy Teigen cringing.

Making an entrance: As the duo ventured out into the audience, a couple of hologram Madonnas exploded via fireworks into a platform and began dancing

Making an entrance: As the duo ventured out into the audience, a couple of hologram Madonnas exploded via fireworks into a platform and began dancing 

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