Whitney Houston, He Can Use Me | Track Review

In advance of the posthumous gospel compilation, I Go To The Rock, the estate of Whitney Houston unveils a second previously unreleased track, “He Can Use Me.”

“Iwanna live / So that God / Can use me / Anytime / Anytime / And anywhere.” That is a good word right there! After unveiling the gospel track, “Testimony”, the first single from the posthumous gospel compilation by Whitney Houston ( I Go To The Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston), the estate releases a second track, “He Can Use Me”.  Like “Testimony” that precedes it, we hear a young Houston (recorded in 1981, when she was a teen) showcasing a truly anointed, special voice – one that would only mature, reaching higher heights.

The premise of “He Can Use Me” is simple.  On this nearly five-minute gospel record, Whitney Houston is singing about serving the Lord – letting him use her as he sees fit.  “See, I wanna walk, yes / Yes, in this world / So the Lord will walk with me,” she sings on the verse adding, “I wanna talk / … Just knowing that the Lord will talk with me” .  Houston is supported by a reverent backdrop, one that sufficiently supports this faith-driven journey.

Final Thoughts  

Once again, the estate of the late, great artist has released music that most of us were unaware of.  Getting more context into the early career of Whitney Houston – her gospel roots – helps us to appreciate her once in a lifetime artistry even more. All told, “He Can Use Me” is a welcome addition to the Houston catalog, particularly for die-hard fans of the late diva.

Whitney Houston • I Go To The Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston • Sony Music Entertainment • 3.24.23

[: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]