On Women

Country music star Taylor Swift sure knows what she's doing by writing about her ex-boyfriends in her Speak Now album released this week. Yes, the album is projected to hit the biggest one-week sales of any release this year, heading for the million mark. But I'm talking about Swift's keen ability to tap into her brain's emotional reservoir, to take all that heartache and create, well, really good music.

[5 Steps to Mend a Broken Heart]

Criticized by some for taking inspiration from guys that put her through the wringer—yes, you, Taylor Lautner and you, John Mayer—the 20-year-old Swift told David Letterman on his CBS Late Show Tuesday, "This is the third album that I've been doing this, so they had fair warning at this point." She wrote the songs, she said, "when I'm feeling what it is I'm discussing in the song. It's all kind of done when it's happening."

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