Whitney Houston, Testimony | Track Review 🎵

Ahead of the posthumous gospel compilation, I Go To The Rock, the estate of Whitney Houston unveils the previously unreleased, “Testimony.”

“I’ve got a testimony / My God has given me one,” the late, great 🎙 Whitney Houston asserts on the previously unreleased single, 🎵 “Testimony”. She continues in spirited fashion in the chorus, which appears at the top of the track, “I gotta tell somebody / How good God’s been to me, yes.” The message of this posthumous Nippy cut is positive through and through, reflecting the faith and love of gospel music Houston always possessed.  Supported by an exuberant music backdrop, it is clear that “Testimony” is firmly planted in gospel music.  Fittingly, “Testimony” serves as the promo single from the posthumous gospel album – more like compilation – 💿 I Go To The Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston.

“Testimony” has its positives, clearly.  BUT, this unreleased cut also doesn’t sound quite like Whitney Houston at her most lucrative or vintage. Much of what we love about Houston is intact BUT it’s… different. So, how/what exactly is different – that is the question! Listen to familiar gospel songs by Houston (💿 The Preacher’s Wife, 1996, namely) and the sound is more seasoned. That is because “Testimony” is younger Houston – 17-year old Houston to be precise! The foundation is in place, but she’d mature far more to reach the pinnacle.

Final Thoughts 💭

All told, 🎵 “Testimony” is enjoyable, respectable, and definitely spiritual.  The message is powerful. Is this vintage Whitney Houston? Not as we know or are familiar with. Furthermore, posthumous releases are almost always at a disadvantage, regardless of who the musician is.  Still, “Testimony” keeps the spirit of Whitney Houston alive, touting her faith and love of gospel music at an early age.

🎙 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]