Synopsis

Lisa Stansfield performs "The Line" against the grand, carefully composed surroundings of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. The video favors atmosphere over a conventional narrative, moving between Stansfield's poised performance and images of formal gardens, classical architecture, and open outdoor spaces. Its elegant visual setting contrasts with the song's urgent concerns about environmental damage, political indifference, war, and the moral boundaries society refuses to cross.

Factoids & Trivia

• "The Line" was released in Europe on September 22, 1997, as the third European single from Stansfield's self-titled album. It reached number 64 on the UK Singles Chart.

• The production used The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, as a principal filming location. The site's formal landscaping and historic architecture give the clip a distinctly painterly, almost period-film atmosphere.

• The video was produced by David Naylor & Associates, also known as DNA. IMDb lists an estimated production budget of $100,000.

• The song marked a change in subject matter for Stansfield, moving away from her more familiar relationship songs toward environmental and political concerns. Contemporary album coverage specifically identified "The Line" as addressing environmental issues.

• The single was supported by an unusually broad range of dance remixes, including versions by Black Science Orchestra, Ian O'Brien, Snowboy, Ashley Beedle, the Boilerhouse Boys, and Loop Da Loop.

• The Black Science Orchestra remix later appeared on *The Remix Album* in 1998 and was also included on later Stansfield compilations and reissue projects, helping the track maintain a life beyond its original single release.