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Sailor makes it to next round of ‘Idol’

Like the title of his song Tuesday night, Phil Stacey could not ask for more.

The Navy musician third class survived the first round of voting on Fox’s hit reality talent show “American Idol,” making it into the top 20.

Stacey, 29, stationed with the Navy Band in Jacksonville, Fla., was decreed “safe” by host Ryan Seacrest minutes before the end of Thursday night’s results show.

But it did look dicey. When he and the five remaining men filed onto the stage, Stacey was standing next to Seacrest. That might have concerned the sailor’s fans because earlier in the show, when the first six men learned their fate, Paul Kim stood next to Seacrest before being eliminated.

But Seacrest addressed Stacey after only one of the men had been given a pass to next week’s round.

“Randy [Jackson] thought you were the best guy,” Seacrest said, summarizing the judge’s comments from Tuesday’s show. “Paula [Abdul] thought you were a great way to end the show. Simon [Cowell] didn’t think you nailed it.”

But he declared Stacey “safe” and congratulated the sailor.

The show kicked off with a recap of Tuesday and Wednesday night’s episodes, with the 12 male contestants performing Tuesday, followed the next day by the 12 women. The show’s three judges agreed that the women as a group were far superior to the wan performances of the guys.

After that dressing down of AI’s men, Stacey — the only contestant wearing a cover — opened the night’s group number, “Sowing the Seeds of Love” by Tears for Fears.

Stacey, who missed the birth of his third child to audition for “Idol” in Memphis, Tenn., is on temporary assigned duty to Los Angeles.

His fans can catch him on next Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Join our discussion board: Do you think he has what it takes to make it all the way?

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Sailor cut from ‘American Idol’