Phillip Phillips performs "Beggin'" by Madcon at the Top 3 performance show
Steven's impressed. "Do you believe this guy?" he says.
"You know what? You catch a groove in the song that's all yours, and you just ride it all the way home," Jennifer says. "It was great."
"When you're facing the sun, the shadows fall behind you," says Steven, predicting that Phillip will be a new Bruce Springsteen if he writes his own songs. New Springsteen? That's pretty much the kiss of career death, like "new Bob Dylan."
"You have been in the zone since Day One," Randy says. "That was another incredible performance by you."
Who do the judges think won Round One?
"I don't know if there was a clear-cut winner," Randy says. "They all did exceptionally well." He thinks Joshua has a slight edge.
Jennifer, however, thinks Phillip's performances may have given him a leg up. So does Steven. "That's the magic here."
Phillip Phillips performs "Disease" by Matchbox 20 at the Top 3 performance show.
"I've gone down this road so many times," Phillips says, as he rides in a motorcade. "Now, I'm going to my own parade." When he gets there, he's overcome by emotion. The crowd cheers, but he's crying.
"Words can't explain how I feel," he tells the crowd at his concert (one of whom holds up a sign that says, "Fluffhead."
Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips Message Top 2
Jennifer didn't think it was a wow performance "which we are needing right now and wanting right now. ... We'll see what you've got next."
"I feel the same way she did," Steven says. "It wasn't over the top; it was Phillip Phillips."
Randy thinks it's weird and wants to make sure the other judges didn't love it. "I didn't like it, either. It was such a subdued moment; you can do those in your sleep."
Ouch.
Think it's going to matter?
Me, either.
Phillip Phillips performs "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seger at the Top 3 performance show.
"The perfect song at the perfect time, and your best performance on the show ever!" Randy says. "Finally, in the end, when you need moments ... you had a giant moment." He just showed everybody that he can sing the melody when it suits them.
Jennifer thinks there's 20 million girls out there who wish he was singing that song to them.
"There's no other word but 'beautiful,' " Steven says. But apparently he thought of another one, because the producers suddenly hit the mute button for a couple seconds.
American Idol Top 3 Related Performance May 16, 2012
Steven and Randy Advice for Top 2Joshua Ledet - "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Imagine", "No More Drama"
Jessica Sanchez - "I'll Be There", "My All", "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
Phillip Phillips - "Beggin", "Disease", "We've Got Tonight"
Joshua Ledet Journey
