History Music / TheCivilWars

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Generally 2. 3 on their grittier songs.

'''The Civil Wars''' were a musical duo comprised of singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo specialized in stripped-down folk and country songs (with White on guitar & vocals, and Williams on vocals and sometimes piano), highlighted by two-part vocal harmonies that slowly gathered them a fanbase. The two were struggling solo artists who met each other at a songwriters’ workshop in Nashville that [[{{Irony}} neither had actually wanted to go to]]. They were teamed up by chance and found that their styles meshed well.

* CoverVersion: These two love covers. {{Sade}}'s "No Ordinary Love" is covered on their live album, while their renditions of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five and "Dance Me to the End of Love" by Music/LeonardCohen are bonus tracks on ''Barton Hollow.'' They also do "Disarm" by Music/TheSmashingPumpkins during live shows, as well as Music/MichaelJackson's "Billie Jean." "Disarm" made it on to their second album, as well as a cover of "Tell Mama", originally by Etta James.

Working independently, the duo nonetheless attracted a surprising amount of attention. Their song "Poison & Wine" was featured on an episode of ''Series/GreysAnatomy'', and they performed "Barton Hollow" on ''Series/TheTonightShow''. In a very coveted spot by 2011 standards, they spent time touring in support of {{Adele}}, who was a big fan of theirs (as well as Music/TaylorSwift, Music/SaraBareilles and [[Music/CultureClub Boy George]] of all people). Their first release, a live recording entitled ''Live At Eddie's Attic,'' is free to download on their website. Downloads thus far have surpassed the 200,000 mark.

Working independently, the duo nonetheless attracted a surprising amount of attention. Their song "Poison & Wine" was featured on an episode of GreysAnatomy, and they performed "Barton Hollow" on ''Series/TheTonightShow''. In a very coveted spot by 2011 standards, they spent time touring in support of {{Adele}}, who was a big fan of theirs (as well as Music/TaylorSwift, Music/SaraBareilles and [[Music/CultureClub Boy George]] of all people). Their first release, a live recording entitled ''Live At Eddie's Attic,'' is free to download on their website. Downloads thus far have surpassed the 200,000 mark.

* CoverVersion: These two love covers. {{Sade}}'s "No Ordinary Love" is covered on their live album, while their renditions of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five and "Dance Me to the End of Love" by LeonardCohen are bonus tracks on ''Barton Hollow.'' They also do "Disarm" by Music/TheSmashingPumpkins during live shows, as well as Music/MichaelJackson's "Billie Jean." "Disarm" made it on to their second album, as well as a cover of "Tell Mama", originally by Etta James.

Working independently, the duo nonetheless attracted a surprising amount of attention. Their song "Poison & Wine" was featured on an episode of GreysAnatomy, and they performed "Barton Hollow" on ''Series/TheTonightShow''. In a very coveted spot by 2011 standards, they spent time touring in support of {{Adele}}, who was a big fan of theirs (as well as Music/TaylorSwift, SaraBareilles and [[Music/CultureClub Boy George]] of all people). Their first release, a live recording entitled ''Live At Eddie's Attic,'' is free to download on their website. Downloads thus far have surpassed the 200,000 mark.

The Civil Wars were a musical duo comprised of singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo specialized in stripped-down folk and country songs (with White on guitar & vocals, and Williams on vocals and sometimes piano), highlighted by two-part vocal harmonies that slowly gathered them a fanbase. The two were struggling solo artists who met each other at a songwriters’ workshop in Nashville that [[{{Irony}} neither had actually wanted to go to]]. They were teamed up by chance and found that their styles meshed well.

* CoverVersion: These two love covers. {{Sade}}'s "No Ordinary Love" is covered on their live album, while their renditions of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five and "Dance Me to the End of Love" by LeonardCohen are bonus tracks on ''Barton Hollow.'' They also do "Disarm" by Music/TheSmashingPumpkins during live shows, as well as MichaelJackson's "Billie Jean." "Disarm" made it on to their second album, as well as a cover of "Tell Mama", originally by Etta James.

The Civil Wars were a musical duo comprised singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo specialized in stripped-down folk and country songs (with White on guitar & vocals, and Williams on vocals and sometimes piano), highlighted by two-part vocal harmonies that slowly gathered them a fanbase. The two were struggling solo artists who met each other at a songwriters’ workshop in Nashville that [[{{Irony}} neither had actually wanted to go to]]. They were teamed up by chance and found that their styles meshed well.

The Civil Wars were made up of songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo specialized in stripped-down folk and country songs (with White on guitar/vocals, and Williams on vocals and sometimes piano), highlighted by two-part vocal harmonies that slowly gathered them a fanbase. The two were struggling solo artists who met each other at a songwriters’ workshop in Nashville (that neither actually wanted to go to).

Working independently, the duo nonetheless attracted a surprising amount of attention. Their song "Poison & Wine" was featured on an episode of GreysAnatomy, and they performed "Barton Hollow" on ''Series/TheTonightShow''. In a very coveted spot by 2011 standards, they've spent time touring in support of {{Adele}}, who is on record as a big fan of theirs (as well as Music/TaylorSwift, SaraBareilles and [[Music/CultureClub Boy George]] of all people). Their first release, a live recording entitled ''Live At Eddie's Attic,'' is free to download on their website. Downloads thus far have surpassed the 200,000 mark.

Despite the strong undercurrent of romance intertwined in their lyrics, John and Joy are actually both married to other people, and came across more like good buddies in their interviews. That is, until everything came to a screeching halt in late 2012, when they broke fans' hearts and announced a hiatus from touring, with "internal discord and differences of ambition" as the reason given. They did release a SelfTitledAlbum of new material in the summer of 2013, but in August of 2014 [[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6207024/civil-wars-break-up-you-are-my-sunshine they confirmed they had ultimately disbanded.]]

* CoverVersion: These two love covers. {{Sade}}'s "No Ordinary Love" is covered on their live album, while their renditions of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five and "Dance Me to the End of Love" by LeonardCohen are bonus tracks on ''Barton Hollow.'' They also do "Disarm" by Music/TheSmashingPumpkins during live shows, as well as MichaelJackson's "Billie Jean."
** "Disarm" made it on to their second album, as well as a cover of "Tell Mama", originally by Etta James.

* GratuitousFrench: The lyrics of "Sacred Heart" are entirely in French. Joy wrote the song. John had to learn his harmony vocal part phonetically, since he doesn't speak the language. When discussing the song, he remarked, "I'm from Alabama. [[SelfDeprecation I barely speak English.]]"
** Also a few lines in the chorus of "C'est la Mort".

* TheOner: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYQwVZIr6iE& "Forget Me Not."]]
** "D'arline" at the end of their self-titled album is the audio version of this trope; it was recorded on a phone, on a front porch, in a single take, and has not been performed again since.

** And now there's the much angrier "The One That Got Away", about wishing the person you're with HAD gotten away.

EPs:

Despite the strong undercurrent of romance intertwined in their lyrics, John and Joy are actually both married to other people, and came across more like good buddies in their interviews. That is, until everything came to a screeching halt in late 2012, when they broke fans' hearts and announced a hiatus from touring, with "internal discord and differences of ambition" as the reason given. They did release a SelfTitledAlbum of new material to be released in the summer of 2013, but in August of 2014 [[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6207024/civil-wars-break-up-you-are-my-sunshine they confirmed they had ultimately disbanded.]]

The Civil Wars are made up of songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo specialize in stripped-down folk and country songs (with White on guitar/vocals, and Williams on vocals and sometimes piano), highlighted by two-part vocal harmonies that have slowly gathered them a fanbase. The two were struggling solo artists who met each other at a songwriters’ workshop in Nashville (that neither actually wanted to go to).

Working independently, the duo have nonetheless attracted a surprising amount of attention. Their song "Poison & Wine" was featured on an episode of GreysAnatomy, and they performed "Barton Hollow" on ''Series/TheTonightShow''. In a very coveted spot by 2011 standards, they've spent time touring in support of {{Adele}}, who is on record as a big fan of theirs (as well as Music/TaylorSwift, SaraBareilles and [[Music/CultureClub Boy George]] of all people). Their first release, a live recording entitled ''Live At Eddie's Attic,'' is free to download on their website. Downloads thus far have surpassed the 200,000 mark.

Despite the strong undercurrent of romance intertwined in their lyrics, John and Joy are actually both married to other people, and came across more like good buddies in their interviews. Everything came to a screeching halt in late 2012, when they broke fans' hearts and announced a hiatus from touring, with "internal discord and differences of ambition" as the reason given. The future of the band is now up in the air, but they did announce a SelfTitledAlbum of new material to be released in the summer of 2013.

* DeadpanSnarker: John is this onstage.

-->''"If you're not sad now, you're gonna be."''
-->''"Yeah, sorry 'bout that." ''

[[caption-width-right:285:Joy & John in their natural habitat.]]The Civil Wars are made up of songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White. The duo specialize in stripped-down folk and country songs (with White on guitar/vocals, and Williams on vocals and sometimes piano), highlighted by two-part vocal harmonies that have slowly gathered them a fanbase. The two were struggling solo artists who met each other at a songwriters’ workshop in Nashville (that neither actually wanted to go to).

Working independently, the duo have nonetheless attracted a surprising amount of attention. Their song "Poison & Wine" was featured on an episode of GreysAnatomy, and they performed "Barton Hollow" on TheTonightShow. In a very coveted spot by 2011 standards, they've spent time touring in support of {{Adele}}, who is on record as a big fan of theirs (as well as TaylorSwift, SaraBareilles and [[CultureClub Boy George]] of all people). Their first release, a live recording entitled ''Live At Eddie's Attic,'' is free to download on their website. Downloads thus far have surpassed the 200,000 mark.

* CreativeDifferences: They went on hiatus in November 2012 because of this.

Despite the strong undercurrent of romance intertwined in their lyrics, John and Joy are actually both married to other people, and came across more like good buddies in their interviews. Everything came to a screeching halt in late 2012, when they broke fans' hearts and announced a hiatus from touring, with "internal discord and differences of ambition" as the reason given. The future of the band is now up in the air.

Despite the strong undercurrent of romance intertwined in their lyrics, John and Joy are actually both married to other people, and come across more like good buddies in their interviews.

* HappilyMarried: Very much averted.

* CreativeDifferences: They went on hiatus in November 2011 because of this.

* {{Music/Instrumentals}}: "The Violet Hour."

* EpicRiff: "Barton Hollow" is pretty damn epic.

* CoverVersion: These two love covers. {{Sade}}'s "No Ordinary Love" is covered on their live album, while their renditions of "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five and "Dance Me to the End of Love" by LeonardCohen are bonus tracks on ''Barton Hollow.'' They also do "Disarm" by the SmashingPumpkins during live shows, as well as MichaelJackson's "Billie Jean."