‘American Idol’: Jessica Sanchez Says Her Next Single Will Be ‘100 Percent Me’

If Jessica Sanchez has learned anything from her loss to Phillip Philips, it’s the value of a really good song.

While her would-be American Idol coronation song, “Change Nothing,” fell flat in the judges’ eyes — she didn’t like it, either — Phillips’ selection, “Home,” was a hit — and could partly be responsible for his victory Wednesday night. Another advantage: the fact that he’s — to put it bluntly — a cute, broody male singer-songwriter with legions of female fans.

Next time, “I’m gonna make my real single something that is 100 percent me,” the 16-year-old runner-up said Thursday in a press call.

She said she had “didn’t have much say” in the choice of “Change Nothing,” and looks forward to getting more time — and options — in the future, rather than just one day to decide what to sing (on one of the biggest nights of her life). Her upcoming album, she noted, will have have an R&B vibe with a little bit of pop (but not bubblegum).

VIDEO: Jessica Sanchez ‘Relieved That This Whole Thing Is Over’

As for Phillips, “He has such a big fan base. … He’s really an artist,” said Sanchez, praising Phillips’ original vocal style. “I’m so proud of him, and I’m so happy with him.”

And in those tense moments leading up to the result, she said she felt calm rather than anxious: “I wasn’t nervous about anythng. I really thought Phillip was gonna win.”

The 21-year-old Georgia native is the Fox competition’s fifth male winner in a row; the last female to snag the title and bragging rights was Jordin Sparks in season six.

Sanchez, who hails from Chula Vista, Calif., confessed one of the main reasons she would have liked to win would be to break the five-guy winning streak.

“It didn’t have to be me, it could have been Skylar (Laine) or Hollie (Cavanagh),” she said.

Next up for Sanchez: a record deal (Universal record exec Tommy Mottola is reportedly wooing her), the Idol summer tour and an aspiring dream to collaborate with one of her idols, Beyonce.

Is being the runner-up so bad?

“Not at all,” she said. “Jennifer Hudson came in seventh place, and she’s one of the biggest (alums).”

Twitter: @Idol_Worship