The Mulligan Guards' Surprise was a popular song in the 1890s, written and performed by Edward Harrigan and Tony Hart. The two comedians were known for their boisterous performances and Irish-American humor, and their song about the Mulligan Guards became part of the American popular culture of the time. The song featured the two performers singing in character as members of the Mulligan Guards, a fictional military unit that had a habit of getting into trouble.

To learn to sing like Harrigan and Hart, it's important to focus on their unique vocal styles. Both performers had distinctive voices that emphasized their Irish-American background. Hart sang in a nasal, high-pitched voice, while Harrigan had a deep, gravelly tone. To capture their style, it's important to pay attention to the nuances of their voices and to practice imitating their inflections and accents.

Singers who want to learn to sing like Harrigan and Hart should also focus on diction and articulation. The duo had a talent for delivering rapid-fire lyrics in a clear and understandable way. Practicing tongue twisters and exercises designed to improve diction can help singers emulate Harrigan and Hart's fast-paced delivery.

In terms of specific songs to study, singers should look to Harrigan and Hart's many comedic compositions. The Mulligan Guards' Surprise is an excellent place to start, but other Harrigan and Hart classics like The Mulligan Band and The Mulligan Letters can also be studied. Singers should also explore other Irish-American songs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as these will help provide the vocal and cultural context necessary to accurately emulate Harrigan and Hart.

Singing Carrots offers several tools to aid in this process. The vocal range test can help singers determine the ideal range to sing these songs, while the pitch accuracy test is an excellent tool for practicing diction and accuracy. The vocal pitch monitor and pitch training tools will also help singers improve their overall vocal performance and accuracy.

To better understand the nuances of Irish-American singing styles, singers should also read articles, such as "Pop/Jazz vs Classical Singing", "How to find your own authentic voice" and "Vocal health." Additionally, skill-related videos, like the ones on Twang, Growling, Vibrato and Chest Voice are helpful for further practice.

By studying the unique vocal styles of Edward Harrigan and Tony Hart, and leveraging the many tools offered by Singing Carrots, aspiring singers can learn to sing like these famous performers and capture the essence of Irish-American humor and song from the 19th century.