I don’t claim that these are the best songs, but I discovered them this past year and have played each of them about a million times on my iPod. They are all upbeat and make me feel good, and that is what I will choose to remember as this dreadful year draws to a close:

• 1. Muse – “Uprising”
• 2. Passion Pit – “The Reeling”
• 3. MGMT – “Electric Feel”
• 4. Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
• 5. Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
• 6. Passion Pit – “Little Secrets”
• 7. Lady Gaga – “Just Dance”
• 8. Animal Collective – “My Girls”
• 9. Empire of the Sun – “We are the People”
• 10. MGMT – “Kids”
• 11. Basement Jaxx – “My Turn”

• Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People
• Goldfrapp – Alive