Shola Ama’s Iconic Video: A Landmark Moment in British R&B Visuals

In the late 1990s, Shola Ama emerged as one of Britain’s brightest R&B talents, with her cover of Randy Crawford’s “You Might Need Somebody” soaring up the charts. While the song’s soulful delivery captivated audiences, it was the accompanying music video—filmed in the modernist surroundings of Highpoint, the celebrated apartment complex designed by Berthold Lubetkin in Highgate—that played a pivotal role in cementing Ama’s status as a star.

Shola Ama on the balcony of the Lubetkin Penthouse

A Modernist Backdrop for a Modern Voice

Highpoint, with its clean lines, generous light, and architectural pedigree, provided a strikingly fresh and sophisticated setting for the video. The choice of Lubetkin’s apartments was both a nod to timeless style and a statement of contemporary cool, aligning perfectly with the understated glamour and poise that Shola Ama projected throughout the video.

Visuals that Elevated a Career

The video’s aesthetic—featuring Ama’s relaxed poses, luminous complexion, and effortless elegance—became instantly recognisable. The interplay of natural light and the apartment’s minimalist interiors created a sense of intimacy and modernity, distinguishing the video from the more generic backdrops of the era. As noted in contemporary reviews, the video’s “masterful” production and “great video lighting” were instrumental in propelling the single to the upper reaches of the charts and keeping it in heavy rotation on MTV across Europe.

A Lasting Influence

Beyond its immediate impact on Ama’s career,

the video shoot at Highpoint stands as a testament to the power of location in visual storytelling. The choice of Lubetkin’s iconic building not only elevated the song but also showcased British modernist architecture to a new generation of music fans and creatives. For many, it remains a touchstone of late-90s British R&B style—a perfect marriage of music, image, and architectural heritage.

Shola Ama’s video for “You Might Need Somebody,” filmed in Lubetkin’s Highpoint apartments, is more than a pop culture footnote. It exemplifies how the right location can transform a music video into a career-defining moment, blending the elegance of modernist design with the fresh energy of a rising star.