Aruban-Dutch singer Dave Benton, who won the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest together with Estonian singer Tanel Padar, was interviewed by Dutch radio station Radio 2 today. The singer revealed that in the previous years, both Estonia and Finland have invited him to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest once again.

Dave Benton is still living in Estonia where he feels very well accepted, also in the music industry. In the radio show Schiffers.FM on Dutch Radio 2, he explained how people suddenly started recognizing him in Estonia after the Eurovision Song Contest victory. “And that's still going on,” he added. “The first thing they scream at my concerts is Are you ready?! “.

Asked whether he would like to represent Estonia once again, Benton said he was asked to do so. “They also asked me in Finland. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I will surely try to write songs for the Eurovision Song Contest. But my answer is 'Why not?' As an artist you have nothing to lose.”

Benton refers to the Olsen Brothers, the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest winners who finished second in this year's Danish national final. “That was no disaster. Who says that old professional aren't allowed to participate? From my point of view, the more professionals participating, the better the festival will be. At the moment, the Eurovision Song Contest is too much being looked at as a contest for amateurs and youngsters.”

Concluding the interview, Dave Benton said that Dutch broadcaster NOS is of course welcome to contact him too. Dave Benton and Tanel Padar won the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen with the song Everybody.