James Durbin Eliminated; Three Remain on 'American Idol'

May 13, 2011 — -- "Believin" wasn't enough for James Durbin, who was eliminated from "American Idol" Thursday night.

"I did so much stuff that's never been done on this show before," he said.

Wiping away tears, the rocker from California said he had hoped to get to the final three but was thankful for the experience.

"I did what I came here to do... to give metal a chance," Durbin said.

On Wednesday, Durbin sang Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and The Clovers' "Love Potion No. 9."

Thursday's elimination show included live performances by Enrique Iglesias and Jordin Sparks and a screening of "Idol" judge Steven Tyler's music video.

This week was a particularly action-packed one for the "Idol" gang with Lady Gaga pushing the envelope and amping up everyone on the show.

Her Wednesday visit and mentoring sessions were designed to give the final four contestants "senses of inspiration and confidence."

For Durbin, that meant putting her hands on his hips and cooing, "When you move those hips, it makes you sexy."

"To sum it for me, it was awkward," Durbin told The Hollywood Reporter about being groped by Gaga. "It was unexpected and very uncomfortable. I warned [my girlfriend] first. She didn't like it. Only on 'Idol.'"

Final Three

The stakes are high for the remaining three - Scotty McCreery, Haley Reinhart and Lauren Alania - ahead of next week's hometown visits.

This week, the remaining contestants battled it out by chosing songs that inspire them along with songs by the lyricist Jerry Leiber and composer Mike Stoller.

Ahead of Thursday's elimination, they talked with The Hollywood Reporter about their feelings at this late stage of the competition:

"I'm not gonna crack," Reinhart said about the criticism she's received from judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson. "As much as they might try to or want me to, I wont. I think they know I can be very strong willed and that's why they give it to me. They don't hold back from me, they never have, never will."

Alaina reflected on how she's refined her voice through "Idol," saying, "I used to sing in the same key all the time and now because I'm up against amazing people, I gotta do something different, so I've been trying to sing high notes."

McCreery said though he's had a blast during the competition, he can't wait to go home. "Every face I see in L.A. is a stranger to me, so I'm looking forward to getting home and seeing people I grew up with my whole life," he said. "Let me tell you, I'm gonna be crying when I get off that airplane."